Ajani Cornelius Opens up on Transferring to Oregon
Oregon Football has now gone through 10 spring practices with the big spring game looming next weekend.
During the spring the coaching staff has welcomed nearly 30 new players to the roster between the 2023 recruiting class and the transfer portal.
One of the top additions of the offseason was former Rhode Island offensive tackle Ajani Corenlius, who chose the Ducks over finalists like Ohio State and Nebraska. The Ducks needed some help along the offensive line after losing so many veterans from a season ago and he projects to play a big role in 2023.
Following Thursday's practice he met with the media for the first time and discussed why he chose the Ducks.
"Initially I just had a gut feeling," Cornelius said recalled of his decision process. "Talking with Coach Lanning, we spoke on the phone multiple times and he really made me trust him. I also liked Bo (Nix) a lot. I talked to him on the phone a couple of times before I got here.
"When I got here on a visit, Marcus Harper, he hosted me and we had a lot of the same mentality and wanted to do big things. So I knew this is a place I could come to and kind of get the goals that I want to achieve done."
Cornelius was thrown a curveball when he got to Oregon, as his primary recruiter Adrian Klemm was hired by the New England Patriots--a move he admits he wasn't expecting.
"I wasn't expecting it but I wish Coach Klemm nothing but the best," the offensive lineman said. "He gave me an opportunity to come to a great place and play some great football and I'm excited for that. Coach Terry, he's been great with me. He brings a nice energy to the room and I'm just excited to play with this group and this coaching staff."
As one of the newer faces on Oregon's roster, he's tasked with bringing a veteran presence to an offensive line that lost four starters from a season ago. But he isn't letting it weigh on him.
"You can't think about it too much. My mentality can't be 'I'm a new guy here,'" he said. "I gotta come in and kind of assert myself in a way where everybody knows that I'm here to be for this team. I just want to embrace the team and see these young guys succeed."
Familiar names like Steven Jones, Josh Conerly Jr. and Marcus Harper II will help push him on the offensive line and get up to speed on the culture Dan Lanning has instilled in Eugene. But players on the other side of the ball, on the defensive line, will play just as big of a role in preparing him for the 2023 season.
Cornelius highlighted a couple of players along the edge that are already giving him the toughest competition through ten practices.
"Young Matayo (Uiagalelei), he's really good. We're working and he's getting better every single day. Jordan Burch coming in, he's been excellent off the edge. Brandon Dorlus. All those guys are real solid edge rushers."
The transfer offensive lineman has been rotating along the line throughout the spring, but logged most of his snaps at right tackle when he was at Rhode Island.
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