Forgotten Jayhawks: Jon Cornish

Welcome to the first installment of “Forgotten Jayhawks!” This week, we take a look at running back Jon Cornish, who didn’t see much action during his first two seasons as a Jayhawk, yet had one of the most successful careers in Kansas football history.

Cornish has a very unique background, as he was born and grew up in Canada. Once he got to Kansas in 2002, he redshirted and still didn’t see significant playing time until 2005. During that year, Cornish helped lead the Jayhawks to a victory in the Fort Worth Bowl. It was his senior year in 2006 though where he tore it up on the field.

During the 06’ season, Cornish led the Big 12 in rushing yards (1,457), rushing attempts (250), and yards from scrimmage (1,651). His 1,457 rushing yards in 2006 is still the all-time most rushing yards in a season by a Jayhawk.

Despite a record of 6-6, Kansas failed to make a bowl game in Cornish’s senior season.

After five years as a Jayhawk, Cornish went undrafted in the NFL; however, rather than trying to get in the NFL via free agency, he opted for the Canadian Football League. In 2007, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders, but similar to his time at Kansas, Cornish had to work his way up from the bottom.

Starting his CFL career as strictly a special teams player, Cornish started to get snaps at running back in 2008. That same year, the Stampeders won their sixth CFL Grey Cup, the first of two that Cornish would be part of. He would also win a number of personal accolades, including CFL all-star nods from 2012-2014, as well as CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award in 2013. That same season, Cornish rushed for over 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing a game that year.

In 2014, Cornish helped lead the Stampeders to their seventh Grey Cup. He would later retire with Calgary after the 2015 season having spent his entire career there.

In 2019, Jon Cornish was inducted into the CFL hall of fame, the only former Kansas football player to be inducted.