Thanks for all the info.
It's possible these are tillers. We are near the ocean so it can get breezy around here. I have had problems with lodging in past years so planted the seeds in basins and filled in with soil as they grew - if they showed any leaning I hilled up some more, so I can't tell one plant from another now in the hill - the bases are buried too deep. These are the healthiest corn plants I have ever had in this house, so just when I was feeling all pleased with my results these weird ears showed up to take me down a notch. LOL