GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jemalle Cornelius arrived at Florida in 2002 as a high-profile member of new Coach Ron Zook’s first freshman class. Cornelius redshirted that fall and his trajectory over the next three seasons was that of a developmental player.
 
Until Urban Meyer arrived in 2005. Then things got atypical. 
 
“I came to the University of Florida, honestly, as a kid who didn’t say a whole lot. I was never a vocal guy. Just did what I did and worried about me,” Cornelius said. “Then we had a coaching change.”
 
And then everything changed. Meyer looked at Cornelius and didn’t see merely a promising third-year sophomore wide receiver with 19 career receptions and three touchdowns. He saw a player with a presence and challenged him – pushed him, actually – to get out of his comfort zone and become an unlikely leader in a wildly talented locker room. 
 
By his senior year, Cornelius went by the nickname “Cap,” as in team captain, and was one of the most universally respected players on the team. Statistically, he may have been a role player on that 2006 national-championship squad, but he left an indelible mark on the program and especially his coach. 
 
“One of my favorite players of all-time,” Meyer said last week. “When a new coach comes in, they don’t know [you]. Obviously, we did things very differently and Jamalle Cornelius never questioned what we did. All he did was do what was asked. He went as hard as he possibly could.” 
 
For that, and what Meyer accomplished with players like Cornelius resetting the culture, it’s apropos that both men will be in the house Saturday night when the Gators (3-7, 2-5) take on rival and 20th-ranked Tennessee (7-3, 3-3) in their Southeastern Conference clash at Spurrier/Florida Field. 
 
Meyer will be here to be recognized in conjunction with his enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame next month. Cornelius will be here to take the honorary pregame “Mr. Two Bits” turn. 

 

“I usually try to get back for two or three games a year, but haven’t been able to this season,” said Cornelius, now 41, who instead has spent weekends going to see his freshman son, Jayden, play defensive back at Western Carolina. “But this is an opportunity not a lot of guys get.” 

 

His UF career numbers show 50 games, 82 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns. As a senior on that ’06 championship team he caught 34 passes (tied for third-best behind only Dallas Baker and Andre Caldwell) for 523 yards and three scores, including a big one early in UF’s 21-20 road win against the Volunteers. 

 

Hard-core Florida fans, however, will recall one Cornelius play over all the others. 

 

In the 2006 SEC Championship Game, the Gators trailed Arkansas 21-17 late in the third quarter and faced a fourth-and-10 at their own 15. The punt unit took the field, but Meyer – with the guts of a cat burglar – called for a fake with his offense basically backed up. Meyer sent the kicking unit out, but had some words of advice for “Cap” beforehand. 

 

“He told me to get the first down or don’t come back to the sideline,” Cornelius said. 

 

Punter Eric Wilbur took the snap, then handed the ball to Cornelius on an end-around that (not surprisingly, given down and distance) completely flummoxed the Razorbacks. Cornelius, going right to left, sprinted into the open space (and the sticks) for a 17-yard gain and first down. 

 

A few plays later, Wilbur was back on the field, this time punting the ball from around midfield and deep into Arkansas territory. Razorbacks return man Reggie Fish muffed the catch and UF’s Wondy Pierrelouis recovered the ball in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. 

 

The Gators never trailed again, winning 38-28, and claiming the seventh league title in program history. They went on to slaughter No. 1 Ohio State 41-14 in the national title game. 

 

That was 21 years ago. 

 

Cornelius graduated in ’07 with a degree in Family Youth and Community Science and eventually got his master’s degree in Educational Leadership online. At 24, he was hired as head football coach at his prep alma mater, Fort Meade (Fla.) High, making him the youngest head coach in the state at the time. He’s still at Fort Meade, but now as an assistant principal. 

 

Feel-good stories are the best stories. 

 

Come Saturday night, give a tip of the hat to “Cap.” He earned it. 

 

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu. Find his story archives here.