Cornish native’s long road to NFL hopeful
HIRAM, Maine (BVM) — Clay Cordasco could be labeled as a late football bloomer. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman wasn’t recruited coming out of high school. Cordasco’s journey to the NFL has been one that would be hard for any player to follow.
Cordasco didn’t see much team success while he was a starting offensive lineman during his first stint at his local high school. While attending Sacopee Valley High School from his freshman through junior years, Cordasco never saw his team win a game.
Cordasco realized he needed to transfer to reach a higher level of competition at the prep level. His move led him to Kennett High School in New Hampshire, where the offensive lineman saw individual and team success, participating in the New Hampshire All-Star Game.
After high school, Cordasco would delay his college career, passing on an opportunity to play in his first year after graduation. While working as a laborer back in Maine, Cordasco decided he would take another crack at football, moving to a relative’s house in California.
With the decision to move away from his hometown, the future standout guard would play at two different junior colleges (JUCO). The grind of playing JUCO football was a similar experience to the many players who have gone through it. Cordasco worked the early shift at a gym in Calabasas on game days.
After showcasing his skills at Los Angeles Valley College, Cordasco transferred to Oregon State University, where he would make noise for the Beavers as an interior lineman.
At Oregon State, Cordasco played in 21 games, starting in all 12 his senior season. He helped lead the Beavers’ offense to 156.7 rushing yards per game and 255.1 passing yards per game.
During Cordasco’s pro day, the guard ran a 5.08 second 40-yard dash that would have ranked him second for interior linemen at the NFL Combine. Cordasco also put significant numbers up in the three-cone drill, broad jump, and vertical.
With attention coming Cordasco’s way around the NFL Draft, the Oregon State guard had to wait until after the draft to get his call. Cordasco signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, who will look to use his versatility on the offensive line.
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With rookie minicamp and OTAs looking different with the COVID-19 pandemic, Cordasco, along with rookies all around the league, will try to find a way to make an NFL roster or expanded practice squad roster.
