Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Football: Reggie Corbin is coming back to the Illini

By Rees Woodcock

PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 06: Illinois Fighting Illini running back Reggie Corbin (2) runs and scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the College Football Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 6, 2018, at HighPoint.Com Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 06: Illinois Fighting Illini running back Reggie Corbin (2) runs and scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the College Football Game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 6, 2018, at HighPoint.Com Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Illinois football team received some great news on Saturday morning.

This great news wasn’t a recruit committing to the program from the class of 2019, 2020 or 2021. It wasn’t another transfer coming home to help the Illini win games in the future. While it wasn’t any of the things I previously mentioned, what happened on Saturday is just as impactful.

Running back Reggie Corbin announced on Twitter that he was coming back to Champaign for his fifth year. This was huge news for the Illini. He is a running back who can really make an impact and get this team to a bowl game in 2019.

Corbin entered the Illinois program as a three-star recruit who was the No. 1534 player in the class of 2015 and the No. 128 running back in the nation. During his freshman season, I feel like Corbin would have been an impact player. But, he had to sit out and take a redshirt year because of a torn Labrum before the season started.

The following two seasons for Corbin were okay. He didn’t start much, I believe only two games, but he was still electrifying. During his redshirt freshman campaign, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Last season was the pinnacle of his playing career thus far.

Corbin ended the 2018 season rushing the ball 128 times for 1085 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 16 catches for 176 yards as well. He was the stalwart of this Illini offense. He was someone new offensive coordinator Rod Smith could rely on. This kid had it all.

I believe Corbin had multiple decisions to make. He could have declared for the NFL, which would have been risky. I think he probably would have been late rounds at best at this point. I think Corbin graduated too, so that would enable him to transfer out to any program in the country. That would have been devastating to the Illinois football program.

Next. 3 effects of the Luke Ford transfer to the Illini. dark

But, Corbin decided to stay. He was true to the Orange and Blue. This kid is one of the greats, and he has higher goals in mind. He was one of the best running backs in 2018, and I expect him to be in the top 10 in 2019. This kid is special, and we get to watch him for one more year.

Home/Illinois Football