Illinois Football: Reggie Corbin starting the USFL season off strong

Two games into the USFL season, former Illinois football running back Reggie Corbin has picked up where he left off.

The former Illini running back finished the first season of the USFL off as one of the best ball carriers in the league. He would have led the league in rushing if it wasn’t for injuries, but Corbin still finished with 518 yards, which was fourth in the USFL.

Despite Corbin’s great running ability, the Michigan Panthers only managed to win two out of the 10 games they played. They finished third in the North division and had the second-worst record in the league.

A new season is upon us, though. Corbin returned in the backfield, and the Panthers are looking to change the course of this franchise.

Former Illinois football running back Reggie Corbin has led the Michigan Panthers to a strong start in the USFL

The Panthers have only played two games this season and already have as many wins as they did in 2022. Michigan has started the season 2-0, with convincing wins over the Houston Gamblers and the Philadelphia Stars, both of whom had more wins in 2022.

Who is leading the way for the Panthers in the backfield? Corbin, of course. He has 20 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns. His rushing total leads the USFL, and he is third in the league in rushing touchdowns.

Corbin’s great season was boosted by a 131-yard performance against Philadelphia on Sunday night. He came through in the clutch as well. With the game tied 10-10, Corbin had a three-yard plunge into the end zone.

A great defensive stop by Michigan halted the Stars’ next drive. This led to Corbin running the ball down their throats and capping off the drive with a 52-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 24-10.

The season is young but at this point, I think you have to look at Corbin as a serious MVP threat. He is leading the league in rushing and is a leader on the team that holds the best record in the USFL. Corbin is a much watch.