Syracuse National Signing Day Profile: Cornell Perry

Perry brings versatility to the Orange secondary.

Mike McAllister | Dec 15, 2021

Syracuse National Signing Day Profile: Cornell Perry /

Player: Cornell Perry
Position: Defensive Back
Height/Weight: 6-1, 180 pounds
School: Woodhaven High (MI)
Other Notable Offers: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Toledo
Verbal Commitment Date: February 26, 2021
Enrolling Early: Yes

Commitment Quote: “The coaching staff and the education.” Perry said. “Both of them very welcoming and the coaching staff was just so down to earth.”

Evaluation: Perry brings a lot of tools to the secondary, but perhaps his best is his versatility. With his length, cover skills and quickness, he can play boundary corner, line up in the slot or play safety. In Syracuse's 3-3-5, he is best suited for free safety or strong safety, but likely not bulky enough to play the rover. Though he could in a pinch or when Syracuse is looking for more coverage against an opposing passing attack.

Perry has a long frame and shows good defensive instincts. He may only be 180 pounds, but he plays like he is at least 20 pounds heavier. Perry is not afraid to mix it up when defending the run and is a willing tackler. With his length and use of hands, he can be a physical corner who presses opposing receivers or makes it difficult on jump balls.

Where Perry can use some improvement is refining technique. Things like back pedal and smooth hips in and out of his break. As he works on those areas once he gets to Syracuse, and gets into the strength and conditioning program, he could be someone that plays all over the secondary. Perry was also a productive offensive player in high school and has the potential to contribute as a returner.

Published Dec 15, 2021

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.