Pro path

Calgary selected Cornish in the second round (13th overall) of the 2006 CFL Canadian Draft and he signed on Apr. 30, 2007.

2012

In his first full season as a starter, Cornish ran for 1,457 yards as he won the CFL rushing title and broke Normie Kwong’s 56-year-old single-season rushing record for Canadians. He turned in four games with at least 150 yards over the course of the season, accumulating 170 yards on Aug. 9 in Hamilton, 159 yards at Saskatchewan on Aug. 25, a career-best 185 yards on Sept. 7 in Edmonton and 180 yards in a Sept. 28 home game against the Eskimos. He shared the league lead with 11 rushing touchdowns and was also a threat in the passing game as he had 38 catches for 338 yards and two scores. Cornish was named the CFL’s Canadian player of the month in August, September and October/November. He was also voted Canadian player of the week seven times and offensive player of the week once during the regular season and Canadian player of the week twice more in the playoffs.  Cornish’s rushing total was the best in the CFL since 2009, the second-best since 2006 and the seventh-best single-season total in Stampeders’ franchise history. In the post-season, he racked up a combined total of 51 carries for 278 yards — including 100-yard games in both the West semifinal and West final — and three receptions for 58 yards. Cornish was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian and was the West Division finalist for the Most Outstanding Player. He was also selected to the West Division, CFL and CFLPA all-star teams.

2011

Despite not making his first start of the season until Week 13, Cornish led the Stampeders in rushing, was first among all CFL running backs in rushing touchdowns, tied for the league lead in total touchdowns and earned West Division all-star recognition. After being installed as the starter, he ran for 611 yards and seven touchdowns in seven contests. The seven touchdowns were the most of any CFL player during that period and the 611 yards were second only to Toronto’s Cory Boyd. For the season, he posted career high in carries (119), rushing yards (863), rushing touchdowns (nine), catches (26), receiving yards (385) and receiving touchdowns (two). His 7.3-yard-per-carry average led all CFL players with at least 60 rushing attempts. In addition to his excellent work on offence, Cornish was tied for second on the club with 13 special-teams tackles and returned eight kickoffs for 167 yards. Cornish recorded a pair of 100-yard rushing games during the regular season including a career-high 149-yard performance on Oct. 1 against Saskatchewan that resulted in him being named both the top offensive player and top Canadian in the CFL’s player-of-the-week awards. He also ran for 128 yards on Oct. 14 against Toronto — including a career-best 57-yard dash — and again picked up the CFL’s Canadian player of the week honour. He was also named the CFL’s Canadian of the month for September after posting 336 rushing yards, two touchdowns, a 9.9-yard-per-carry average and eight receptions for 166 yards. He picked up more league recognition in the playoffs as he was named the Canadian player of the week after rushing for 127 yards and one touchdown in the West semifinal against Edmonton. Additionally, his team-leading eleven touchdowns were the most by a Canadian Stampeder since 1995. For the second year in a row, Cornish was the Stamps’ nominee for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award.

2010

In his fourth season in Calgary, Cornish established a number of career highs and earned the Stampeders’ nomination for the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Canadian award. He played in all 18 regular-season games as well as the West final. His 7.3-yard average per rush was tops in the CFL among running backs, with at least 50 carries and he ran for a career-high 618 yards. He had three carries of at least 50 yards — a 52-yarder against Edmonton on Aug. 15, a 50-yard dash against Saskatchewan on July 24 and another 50-yarder against BC on Aug. 28. He also contributed as a receiver, making 14 catches for 226 yards and one touchdown. On special teams, he made 12 tackles and also returned 12 kickoffs for 224 yards. Cornish twice earned top Canadian honours in the CFL player of the week awards during the 2010 season as he was recognized for his efforts in Week 4 and Week 9.

2009

After suffering an injury during the pre-season, Cornish returned to action in Week 4 and played in the final 15 regular-season games as well as the West semifinal and West final. He once again served as the primary backup at running back and rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries for two touchdowns. Cornish ran for a season-high 43 yards and scored a touchdown in the Sept. 7 Labour Day Classic against Edmonton. He set single-season career highs in receiving with eight receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown. Cornish was also valuable on special teams as he recorded 18 tackles, the second-highest total on the club.

2008

In his second season, Cornish served as the primary backup at running back and played in every game including the West final and Grey Cup. He rushed for 254 yards on 30 carries including a long of 48 yards, all career highs. Among players with double-digit carries, he had the highest yards-per-rush average of any player on the Stamps roster (8.5). He added a pair of receptions for 26 yards. Cornish also recorded his first CFL touchdown when he went 21 yards for a major against BC on Nov. 1. His greatest contribution came on special teams as he led the team with 21 tackles, four more than the next player.

2007

Cornish contributed mainly on special teams and was a disruptive force on the cover units, recording 15 special-teams tackles. He had 10 kickoff returns for 211 yards. Cornish ran 12 yards on his only carry and was credited with an additional 18 rushing yards on a lateral play.

Career highlights

• Was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2012
• Was the West Division nominee for the Most Outstanding Player award in 2012
• Was Calgary’s nominee for the Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2010 and 2011
• Led the league in rushing in 2012 with 1,457 yards
• Broke Normie Kwong’s 56-year-old single-season rushing record for Canadians in 2012
• Shared the league lead with 11 rushing touchdowns in 2012
• Recorded a career-best 185 rushing yards on Sept. 7, 2012, in Edmonton
• In his first playoff start, he ran for 127 yards and one touchdown in the 2011 West semifinal against Edmonton
• Led all CFL running backs in 2011 with nine rushing touchdowns
• Led the Calgary Stampeders in touchdowns with 11 (nine rushing, two receiving) in 2011
• Tied with Montreal’s Jamel Richardson for the league lead in 2011 with 11 total touchdowns
• West Division all-star in 2011 and 2012
• CFL all-star in 2012
• CFLPA all-star in 2012
• Received three CFL Canadian player-of-the week honours and one top offensive player award in 2011
• Received nine Canadian player of the week awards and one offensive player of the week award in 2012
• Voted the CFL’s top Canadian player for September of 2011
• Voted the CFL’s top Canadian player of the month for August, September and October/November in 2012
• Had a 57-yard run, the longest of his career, on Oct. 14, 2011, at Toronto
• Recorded first reception major of career — a 10-yard catch from Henry Burris — on Aug. 1, 2009, against Saskatchewan
• Twice named the CFL’s Canadian player of the week during the 2010 season
• Recorded three runs of 50 or more yards in 2010
• Member of the 2008 Grey Cup-champion Stampeders
• Scored first career touchdown against BC on Nov. 1, 2008, on a 21-yard run
• Led Stamps in special-teams tackles in 2008 with 21
• First CFL rush was a 12-yard gain against Edmonton on Labour Day of 2007
• Dressed for first professional game against Hamilton on June 30, 2007
• Two-time winner of the Calgary Booster Club’s male athlete of the year award in 2011 and 2012

College

In 34 games with Kansas, Cornish accumulated 2,242 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 386 carries and had 344 yards and three scores on 51 catches. In his senior year, Cornish finished ninth in Division I and first in the Big-12 Conference with 1,457 yards rushing, a single-season Kansas record. His best performance of 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns came against Kansas State on Nov. 18, 2006. He was selected to play for the West in the 82nd East-West Shrine game in 2007.

Notable

Cornish was selected as B.C.’s provincial high school player of the year in 2001. He earned a combined eight letters in football, basketball and track at Saint Thomas More High School. He’s a spokesman for Plan Canada, an organization committed to social justice for children in developing countries.