7 Points With Kansas RB Jon Cornish

After setting a single-season rushing record with 1,457 yards during his final season at Kansas, Jon Cornish has NFL dreams and knows he can contribute a the next level in a number of different ways. Learn more about him in this exclusive interview with Scout.com's Ed Thompson.

Ed Thompson: So how does a guy from British Columbia end up in Kansas?

Jon Cornish: I was just trying to play some Big 12 football. That had been my dream since I was in grade eight to play against Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma. I didn't want to send my tape there I wanted to play against them. I sent my tape to the other schools and Kansas offered me a scholarship on the spot after watching the tape.

ET: Your first of couple years at Kansas, you certainly had some great accomplishments as a special teams player. That's got to be attractive to pro scouts.

JC: I really think special teams is just like a battle of wills -- who wants to block whoever more, who wants to go harder against the other person. I think that's why I like special teams so much.

ET: In high school I saw you had 37 quarterback sacks. Is it some of that attitude that you developed in high school that drives you on special teams?

JC: Most definitely. Some of those sacks were the result of me just me jumping over the center at the snap. I played every single defensive position. I had sacks as a linebacker, a nose tackle, a safety and a defensive end. I played a little corner too. I just tried to do whatever I could.

Jon Cornish pushes past Missouri's Darnell Terrell (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

ET: When you were in high school at British Columbia I noticed as well that you averaged 14.9 yards per carry. How in the world did you do that?

JC: Basically, I'd only carry the ball four or five times a game - a few more some games. I'd score a few touchdowns and then my coach would take me out. The stat is impressive because I really do believe we have some very talented players up there, but there were few that could keep up with the speed I brought to the table. Once I got past the first and second lines of the defense, it was over.

ET: I saw in 2005 you were awarded the John Hadl Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year. You weren't even a starter that year were you?

JC: Yes. I was a little bit surprised by that. I was half expecting the special teams MVP. Statistically speaking, my numbers were at the level of…..better than every one else's I guess.

ET: You said you kind of expected to get it on special teams. What happened that year that you felt made you a standout and a strong candidate for that award?

JC: That was my first year starting at gunner. I had played gunner every year, but I was never 'the guy.' Some games I would have three or four tackles against punts. Our punt coverage unit was one of the best in the country that year.

ET: Did you sense any enthusiasm from any of the teams you talked to at the Combine?

JC: The special teams and running back coach from Kansas City seemed very interested, and that would be a place I'd love to play.

A member of the Professional Football Writers of America, Ed Thompson's NFL and college football player interviews and features have been published across the Scout.com network and syndicated through FoxSports.com's NFL team pages.