Corona Centennial RB Cornell Hatcher Jr. 'under the radar' as college football recruit, but not undervalued
Cornell Hatcher Jr. is putting up Power Five college football recruit numbers, but without the Power Five attention. It's got longtime Corona Centennial high school football coach Matt Logan scratching his head.
"It's frustrating because if more schools knew what kind of character kid he is and the way he works — he's a poster child for a football program," Logan said of Hatcher.
Hatcher has 37 rushing touchdowns and 2,036 rushing yards in 11 games this season, including 184 yards and five touchdowns on just 16 carries in Centennial's 63-39 CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal win over Orange Lutheran.
Yet, it doesn't seem to be good enough for big-time college coaches.
He's dominating every Friday night at the highest level in high school football. He 6-foot, 205 pounds. He has a 4.3 grade-point average. He squats 500 pounds and hang cleans 315 pounds. He's also led the Huskies (9-2) to the Division 1 semifinals against St. John Bosco on Nov. 17.
"I feel like I'm still very under the radar, but I think a lot of schools are taking second chances. I do believe I'm a high-level back" Hatcher said about his recruitment.
WHAT GIVES?
Corona Centennial running back Cornell Hatcher Jr. is drawing attention from Big Sky and Ivy League college football programs.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Hatcher said a few schools have been on him more recently, including Wyoming, Cal Poly, Montana and Weber State.
"I want to take visits after the season and see what feels best for me," Hatcher added.
Logan believes Hatcher's breakaway speed might've been a huge question mark in the past, speculating maybe that's why the interest hasn't been as high.
Hatcher has checked that box off, too. (video)
He showed elite speed against Orange Lutheran, breaking for an 80-yard touchdown. Nobody was going to catch him.
"That's not the case anymore," said Logan, alluding to the breakaway speed. "He even outran our receivers. That's really hard to do."
According to 247Sports.com, Hatcher has a lot of Ivy League interest from programs like Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell and Penn.
The smiley, high-energy senior said he wants to be a lawyer like his father.
"I want to go into family law like my dad, but he tells me it may not be the best thing to get into," Hatcher said laughing. "We'll see."
PHOTOS: CORNELL HATCHER JR.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Photo by Jann Hendry
Photo by Jann Hendry
Photo by Jann Hendry
Photo by Steven Silva
Photo by Steven Silva
Photo by Heston Quan
