The Impact of Our Work...
Cornerstone Sports Consulting has proven its value over time. Please click below for references:
Administrators
"The Cornerstone educational program has proven tremendously valuable to the University of Arkansas. Our student-athletes and their families, coaches, and our compliance staff all benefit greatly from Cornerstone's involvement in the often misunderstood and unstructured world of agents and preparing for a career in the NFL."
- Jeff Long - Former Athletic Director, University of Arkansas
"LSU uses Cornerstone Sports as an outside resource to educate and prepare our student-athletes to maximize their value throughout their college career. Cornerstone prepares LSU student-athletes and families to handle the onslaught of recruiting by agents, financial advisors and marketing managers and how to implement a disciplined, business process for contacting agents, interviewing selected agents and ultimately making an informed choice in selecting an agent as a representative. Joe and Lal and the Cornerstone staff are always available to help our people and the LSU program."
- Verge Ausberry, Jr. - Deputy Director of Athletics
Louisiana State University
"Cornerstone offers so much to our players, the players' families, the football staff and the university. Our players appreciate their guidance and are more confident about how to handle the situations that are ahead of them. They put a plan together for each player and their family. I would encourage other programs to utilize Cornerstone to prepare their players."
- Mark Robinson - Associate Athletic Director for Football
Texas A&M University
Coaches
"Cornerstone Sports has been an invaluable outside resource for our program. They work closely with our compliance people to develop a specific plan with accurate and reliable information in preparing our players and their families to make educated decisions about their professional future. This approach has helped our student-athletes eliminate distractions throughout the year. I recommend Cornerstone to any program that has an honest desire to assist their players in this area."
- Nick Saban - Head Football Coach, University of Alabama
College Football Playoff National Champion 2015, 2017
BCS National Champion 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012
"Florida State University provides its student-athletes and families with the best tools to succeed and we consider Cornerstone Sports a valuable resource for our players and their families. Our players and families benefit from Cornerstone's verified information, extensive NFL experience and practical guidance, whether it involves entering the NFL Draft process or how to handle each phase of the agent selection process. Cornerstone is a positive contributor to the FSU football program."
- Jimbo Fisher - Head Football Coach, Texas A&M University
- Former Head Football Coach, Florida State University
BCS National Champion 2014
"Cornerstone Sports has developed into a valuable resource for both our coaches and our student athletes and their families. Their staff provides trustworthy and reliable information to help our players make educated decisions about their future. I would recommend Cornerstone Sports to any university with prospective NFL players."
- Mark Richt - Former Head Football Coach
University of Georgia and University of Miami
Compliance Departments
“Cornerstone is an invaluable tool for our student-athletes and their families. Cornerstone understands our student-athletes' perspective and does a great job relating to them. They also provide fantastic communication with the administration, keeping us involved and informed at all times."
- Jon Fagg - Associate Athletic Director, University of Arkansas
Student-Athletes / Families
"Joe Mendes and Cornerstone really provided insight about the NFL process. He is a good dude and someone I used as a resource."
- Derwin James - Strong Safety, Florida State University
1st Round Pick, 17th pick overall, 2018 NFL Draft
NFL Pro Bowl 2018
1st Team All-Pro 2018
"I appreciated Cornerstone as an outside resource to help me through the process of handling agent recruiting and agent interviews. Joe Mendes and Lal Heneghan provided unbiased information to assist me in eliminating distractions and making sound decisions."
- Derrick Henry - Running Back, University of Alabama
Heisman Trophy Winner 2015
College Football Playoff National Champion 2015
"Cornerstone really helped me in this entire process. One thing they never did was try to make my decision for me and push me to stay. All they did was state the facts and told me the truch. Cornerstone helped me a lot and was an excellent resource."
- A.J. Green - Wide Receiver, University of Georgia
1st Round Pick, 4th pick overall, 2011 NFL Draft
NFL Pro Bowl 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
2nd Team All-Pro 2012, 2013
"I am thankful to Coach Saban and The University of Alabama for providing the Cornerstone Sports consulting service that helps equip the families of players transitioning to the next level. In life, we know that knowledge is empowering, and Mr. Mendes and Mr. Heneghan presented the information needed to help us assist Eddie in making the best choices for himself. I believe that the service is a great asset and shold be continued throughout the Alabama existence."
- Wanda Lacy
Mother of Eddie Lacy, Running Back, University of Alabama
2nd Round Pick, 2013 NFL Draft
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 2013, NFL Pro Bowl 2013
"Joe and the staff at Cornerstone were a wealth of information for Courtney and his support group. Every question was answered thoroughly, and their unbiased approach gave us confidence at every turn. Their guidance helped us formulate questions for the agent interviews that were both helpful and designed to elicit accurate information. Cornerstone took the fear and uncertainty out of this process by telling us what to expect in practical, everyday terms that we could understand. Their years of NFL experience helped us immensely. They always had time for us and gave us access to unbiased information when others were pressuring us to make a quick, uninformed decision. We greatly appreciate that Coach Saban provides such a resource to his players and their families. Cornerstone's service is invaluable."
- Honorable Burt Smithart
Third Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Presiding Circuit Judge
Assisted Courtney Upshaw, Defensive End, University of Alabama
2nd Round Pick, 2012 NFL Draft
"I very much appreciate what Joe Mendes did for me my junior year. He provided me with FACTS, not opinions, to help guide my decision whether or not to declare for the draft as a junior. He shot me straight and didn't push me one way or the other. The Cornerstone program deals with history and facts. I went on to get my degree and become a top 10 pick, and everything worked out well. I'm very appreciative to USC for implementing such a program."
- Keith Rivers - Outside Linebacker, University of Southern California
1st Round Pick, 9th pick overall, 2008 NFL Draft
"I very much appreciate what Joe (and his firm) did for me and my family. After my Junior year, when I was considering entering the draft, he presented a very balanced analysis of the situation. He didn't tell me to go or stay.... he just gave me the facts. With the agent selection process during my senior year, he provided me with a solid structure that allowed me to fully enjoy my final college season and make a well-informed decision afterwards. I highly recommend Cornerstone to other players and their families."
- Jake Locker - Quarterback, University of Washington
1st Round Pick, 8th pick overall, 2011 NFL Draft
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