Corbin Ready to Follow Up Breakout Season
July 28, 2019 | Football
By Mike Pearson
FightingIllini.com
For a stretch of games last season, running back Reggie Corbin was drawing comparisons with the greatest Fighting Illini running backs of all time. However, the humble Marylander never bought into the hype.
"I've heard about the greats who've preceded me here at Illinois, but I really don't try to compare myself with them or to top this or top that," he said. "When you get sidetracked by that, it's hard to be your best self. At the end of the day, that's the only thing you can control."
In the eyes of his teammates and his coaches, that's just Reggie being Reggie.
"He's a first-class individual," said offensive coordinator Rod Smith. "His mom and dad definitely raised him the right way."
Still, Corbin's numbers were downright impressive in 2018. One thousand eighty-five rushing yards … 8.5 yards per carry … the FBS's leader in runs of 70-plus yards (4) and top-three in runs of 60-plus yards (5) and runs of 50-plus yards (7). Against Minnesota alone on November 3, Corbin had the eighth-most single-game rushing yards in school history (213), including gallops of 77 and 72 yards.
"Whenever he was healthy and going, we were probably at our most explosive," Smith said. "He provides that home run punch at any time and he always seems to be consistent with big plays."
A turf toe at the end of the season slowed him down, but don't worry, he says he's 100 percent again.
"My production last season was a combination of great coaching, great scheme, and definitely my offensive line," Corbin said. "You don't get any of that without a great offensive line."
This coming season, four of those five "O" linemen return to the Illini lineup. They will be joined by Corbin's best friend, current roommate, and former Gonzaga College High School teammate, Richie Petitbon, a 6-4, 315-pound graduate transfer from the University of Alabama.
"As soon as I called him and told him that I need him, he was ready to go," Corbin said. "Richie packed his bags as fast as possible and came right away."
Another familiar face, one of the men who initially recruited him to Illinois in 2015, is back on the coaching staff, too.
Former Illini receiver Mike Bellamy took over this spring as Corbin's running backs coach.
"The reason Reggie exploded last year is because he was prepared for his opportunity," Bellamy said. "He never stopped working and believing in himself, and he never lost the drive. It came to a point where Coach Smith said let's make a change and Reggie took advantage of it. He found himself right in the front of the line."
The 23-year-old Corbin has enjoyed working with Bellamy this past spring.
"Coach Bellamy did a little bit of my recruiting, so I'm looking forward to playing for him," Corbin said. "It's definitely a blessing. He's a very understanding guy and he will definitely push me and help me achieve any goal that I have and help me be a better man. That's more important than being a better football player."
Corbin wears jersey No. 2, his coach's old number.
"The first thing Coach Bellamy said to me was 'You better represent that number correctly'", Corbin said. "'You'd better do right by it, on and off the field.' So I try to wear it with pride."
Me: "so you really think you're the best illini to ever wear #2?"@CoachBellamy : " No Question, don't disrespect my number!" pic.twitter.com/2FdnwwPkXO
— Reggie Corbin (@JuicedUpReg) March 31, 2019
While the 5-10, 210-dynamo from Upper Marlboro, Maryland punishes his opponents on the gridiron, he plays a far different role off the field. On February 9, @JuicedUpReg tweeted: "I'm learning to put love into the world regardless. They do you wrong, show them love. They disrespect you, show them love. In the end, you'll always receive what you give!"
Drawing an analogy, Reggie says, "In gardening, if you put a watermelon seed in the ground, you're not going to grow bananas. So, if you put love into the world, all you can get is love in return."
That sense of faith and compassion stems from his father, Reginald Sr., and his mother, Patricia, who died when Reggie was 13.
"Me and my dad are closer than ever," Corbin said. "I don't think you'll ever see a closer bond. We just grew together, you know? He knew what my goals were and he just pushed me every single day to grow up a little bit faster. I owe it all to him. He's amazing. Praying to God every night, I couldn't be more blessed than having a father like that."
Speaking of love, Corbin absolutely loves kids. He's following in his father's footsteps by coaching some local Champaign-Urbana youth teams.
"My dad was my coach, so I understand how important a coach's role is," he said. "I try to give these kids the best outlook that I can. Me still being young and being able to relate to them, it's about building a bond."
"To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required. It's Not What You Have To Do, It's What You Get To Do!"~ Mike Bellamy @CoachBellamy
— Reggie Corbin (@JuicedUpReg) July 14, 2019
I'm BLESSED!! pic.twitter.com/ZV5zpjlepV
Corbin, who's already earned his bachelor's degree in communications and is well on his way to a master's in recreation, sport and tourism, admits he misses playing another sport. In high school, his Gonzaga Eagles won two consecutive national titles in rugby.
What if he could only choose one of the sports?
"Oooh, you're trying to get me in trouble," Corbin chuckled. "They're different games. I love both and hopefully I can continue to play both. Rugby has definitely helped my open-field awareness in football … knowing how to straighten a guy out when they're tackling, knowing who's behind me, and helping me develop the variety of moves that I have."
Oh, there's one more thing that Corbin loves … his fellow Illini running backs.
"We joke around and tell everyone that we're the best group on the team," he said. "We try to live up to that standard, on the field and off the field … never missing class, always being on time, knowing all of our assignments, even helping the young quarterbacks out when they have a question. Our group is phenomenal, from top to bottom. We have a seven-headed monster. Anyone in our room can really play and that's a beautiful thing."
