Cornell attended Notre Dame High School at Quincy, Illinois, in which he earned three letters for football and four letters for wrestling. Cornell was a 2006 Max-Enfinger All-American at high school. Cornell was a two-time Chicago Tribune All-state as both Junior and Senior.
College career
Cornell played college football at the University of Illinois. Cornell played 29 games at offensive guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini. In his redshirtfreshman year, he played in two games. In his sophomore year, he played one game for the season. In his junior year, he played 13 games and started 6 of them at guard and at tackle. He helped the Fighting Illini offense lead the Big Ten in rushing and the 11th ranked rushing team in the nation with an average of 246.1 ypg. On November 20, 2010, he helped the Illinois Fighting Illini offense record a total of 559 yards, including 519 rushing yards against Northwestern in which Illinois won the game 41-20. In his senior year, he was named a senior team captain for the season. Cornell was a recipient of Illinois Fighting Illini's Red Orange Award. He played and started 13 games at offensive guard for the season. On October 8, 2011, he helped the Fighting Illini offense to record 518 total yards including 308 rushing yards against Indiana in which Illinois wins the game 41-20. On September 24, 2011, he helped anchored the Illinois Fighting Illini offense record a total of 463 yards against Western Michigan.
Professional career
Baltimore Ravens
On April 28, 2012, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. On August 31, 2012, he was released on the day of roster cuts. On September 1, 2012, he was re-signed to join the practice squad. On August 25, 2013, he was waived by the Ravens.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders signed Cornell to their practice squad on September 11, 2013 and promoted him to their active roster on October 5 and was waived only 2 days later on October 7, 2013 and re-signed to the practice squad on Oct. 9. On October 26, Cornell was promoted again to the active roster and was waived only 2 days later on October 28, 2013 and then re-signed to the practice squad on October 30, 2013. On November 9, 2013 Cornell was signed again and was waived only two days later on November 11, 2013 and then re-signed to the practice squad on November 13, 2013.
Cornell began his college coaching career in 2017 as the offensive line coach for Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. Following his career at Culver-Stockton, he accepted a position at his high school alma mater Quincy Notre Dame as the head football coach.
