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O'Neal, Cornwell Together All The Time

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By SCOTT PURKS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 4, 2008

LITHIA - These two guys are always next to each other, Conor O'Neal and Trent Cornwell.

On offense O'Neal is the center and Cornwell is the strongside guard. On defense O'Neal is a tackle and Cornwell is right behind him at middle linebacker.

This is the way it's been for three seasons at every practice and every game, and just about every workout in the offseason.

"At this point I'd say we know what the other one is going to do before the play ever finishes," Cornwell said. "Which gives us an extra good feeling heading into this year."

Which would be the seniors' last at Newsome High.

The best part, according to O'Neal - who is getting looks from South Florida, Florida International, Illinois, Boise State and Colorado - is that this is Newsome's best overall team in the school's five-year history.

Cornwell, who has gotten interest from Wofford, said, "We're all stronger and faster after a good year of lifting and running. This team believes in itself like never before."

What they don't want is a downturn like they had in 2007 after jumping to a 4-1 record. By the time the season ended, the Wolves were 5-5.

O'Neal and Cornwell said they can't let that happen again because it would hurt extra hard with them being such a huge part of both the offense and defense.

"That's one of the reasons we don't mind running all those extra sprints at the end of practice," Cornwell said. "We know we have to be in great shape to get this done."

O'Neal, who is 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, isn't carrying around a bunch of fat. He's actually relatively lean, which comes partly, he said, from wrestling, which requires a bunch of running. O'Neal, who went 23-2 as a heavyweight last year, plans to wrestle again this winter.

Cornwell, at 6-1 and 225, did more than his share of running as well in the offseason, which he said has made him much faster.

As leaders, look for O'Neal to lead more by example and Cornwell to lead like a coach, which is the reason for his nickname "Coach Cornwell."

"Trent has no problem telling other players where to be and what to do on plays," O'Neal said, chuckling. "But the thing is, everyone respects him because they know that he knows what he's talking about."

Coach Cornwell also chuckles at his nickname, which he hopes to hear for most of life as a future coach.

Ultimately, O'Neal and Cornwell see playing both ways as an opportunity: O'Neal so he can show college coaches he has stamina and versatility, and Cornwell so he can learn as much as possible about every aspect of football.

In the meantime, Cornwell said, "You can probably find me and Conor right together on the football field."

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