Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Size:
Height: 6045
Weight: 310
Arm: 33 ½”
Hand: 9 ½”
Accomplishments:
All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (2023) • First-Team CAA All-Conference (2022)
“With the right development, Ajani Cornelius is a candidate to be a franchise tackle for an NFL organization.”
Strengths:
Impressive movement skills
Developing prospect with high ceiling
Plays with an urgency to finish
Concerns:
Adding tools in his pass protection
Slim frame with less-than-ideal strength
Pad level and functional power
Film Analysis:
Originally starting his career at the University of Rhode Island, Ajani Cornelius is a rare example of an FCS product seamlessly making the transition to Power Five/Four football. In his first season at Oregon, Cornelius was a 14-game starter, showcasing an impressive NFL skill set. Although he is not yet a finished product, Cornelius is one of the more exciting prospects in this year's draft due to the potential he brings to an NFL team in the years to come.
Cornelius possesses a long, slim frame with a strong lower body. Having only been in a Power Four strength program for one off-season, I expect him to continue adding upper-body strength and flexibility to complement his impressive movement skills in both phases of the game.
Cornelius showed dramatic improvement in his postseason games. As a pass protector, his hands made the biggest strides; he transitioned from an inconsistent and inaccurate striker to a player who utilized his length effectively and confidently targeted the right landmarks with his hands. This adjustment provided him with an advantage as he compensated for some developing upper-body strength at the time. He primarily employed a vertical set; whether this was by design or choice, I'd like to see him demonstrate his athleticism by taking a more aggressive approach to protection from time to time. He should improve his snap off the ball as he becomes more comfortable at this level.
As a run blocker, Cornelius struggles to achieve dominant movement on single blocks but very rarely gets knocked back and is capable of holding the point of attack. He excels in horizontal running schemes, where he can showcase his athleticism. His power should continue to improve as he develops, but I would love to see Cornelius explode off the ball with a low pad level and use his hands and feet to initiate contact. There are times when he lunges into defenders, which causes him to lose leverage and makes it difficult for him to displace them.
Cornelius has already shown improvement early in his career and still has more room to grow. With some added strength and improved footwork, he is a candidate to be a Day One starter in the NFL. In the long term, he could develop into a franchise tackle with the right coaching and development.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: Texas Tech (2023), Washington (2023), Utah (2023), Washington (2023), Liberty (2023)
