Cornish selected

Kansas University running back Jon Cornish has been selected to participate in the annual East-West Shrine Game next month.

The all-star game, usually attended by dozens of NFL scouts, will be played Jan. 20 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Cornish is the first Jayhawk selected to play in the game since cornerback Carl Nesmith participated in 2000.

Cornish, KU’s single-season rushing record holder, is one of several Big 12 Conference standouts on the West roster. Others include Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, Kansas State linebacker Brandon Archer and Texas Tech receivers Joel Filani and Jarrett Hicks.

High praise for RB

It’s super early, but preliminary NFL Draft forecasts seem to be high on Cornish, the 6-foot, 210-pound tailback out of British Columbia.

The Web site nfldraftcountdown.com ranks Cornish as the 84th best prospect and the sixth-best running back in the 2007 Draft.

Another – draftboardinsider.

com – ranks Cornish the 90th best prospect in the Draft, and 12th-best running back.

Being a Canadian, Cornish was eligible for the CFL Draft last season despite still being in college. He was selected in the second round by the Calgary Stampede, who still hold his CFL rights. He told reporters during the season that he’s interested in the NFL at this point.

The NFL Draft will take place in New York in late April.

Gordon breaks out

Former KU do-all Charles Gordon, now a rookie for the Minnesota Vikings, had his best game to date against Green Bay on Thursday.

Gordon, a cornerback, registered four tackles against the Packers, giving him six for the season in seven games.

Besides his defensive duties, Gordon also had the opportunity to return a punt against the New York Jets on Dec. 17. He muffed it, though, and had to fall on it for just a one-yard gain.

Gordon left Kansas a year early for the NFL and signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in April. He started the season on the team’s practice squad before being promoted.