Her Campus Illinois had the pleasure to sit down with Reggie Corbin to be featured as this week’s Campus Celebrity! Reggie, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is a Junior running back for the Fighting Illini football team. Not only is Reggie a charismatic and caring person, but he is also a very ambitious and inspirational athlete. From overcoming injuries to handling being so far from home, Reggie shares with us how he stays so disciplined in reaching his goals.
What made you want to play football?
I think I started playing football at around 5 years old. Seeing my older brother play made me want to play. My family was a huge influence on me, my whole family plays sports – mostly football and basketball. I’ve been playing ever since I could remember. Every picture of me when I was a kid is me with a football.
Have you ever played any other sports?
I went to Gonzaga, a Jesuit private high school in Washington, D.C. I actually went there on a basketball scholarship, but I quit basketball my sophomore year. I picked up rugby my junior year, and the coach and players approached me to play for them. We then became national champions in 2014. It was so fun because our rugby team went on trips to Europe to play international teams. I still played football for all four years, always as a running back.
What made you decide to play college football?
I had a chance to play rugby abroad after high school. However, I chose to play college football mostly because I realized that there is life after football and that I wanted to experience college life. College is a special thing and it is important for me to get my degree.
What made you choose University of Illinois?
I chose University of Illinois completely because of football. There was a running back that played here before me, Josh Ferguson, who is the exact same height and size as me. He now plays in the NFL for the Colts. I hope to make it to the league too someday.
First touchdown story:
It was our first game of the year against Murray State, and it was my first game ever. I got the ball on the 3rd yard line. I hear the coach call the play and in my mind, I’m thinking about all the terrible comments of how I’m so small that I could never have a goal line touchdown. So, I get the ball and one of the biggest guys breaks through the line of scrimmage. I break that tackle. Then, I made another guy miss and dove right into the end zone. Then, I pointed right to my dad. He’s a huge support for me. Despite the distance for him to travel, he comes to every home game.
First game as a starter:
It was my freshman year. We were playing Nebraska who was undefeated and ranked #10 at the time. I had 10 carries for 111 yards that game, which is pretty impressive for a freshman running back. It was such a close game. We ended up losing, but it was a moral victory because of how close it was. After this game, I was leading the Big 10 for yards per carry and ranked 3rd in the country for yards per carry.
Have you had any injuries playing football?
Yes, I’ve had two shoulder surgeries. One on each shoulder. The first one happened my freshman year and the second one happened at the end of my sophomore year. They happened from getting hit in practice. It has been so hard to keep going out there and playing a sport that keeps hurting you. Ultimately, I feel it makes me stronger. It lets me know I can recover from anything.
How do you stay so disciplined?
Since high school, it’s always been tough seeing friends go out and party all the time. I almost never go out and I never drink. But that’s why I run so much, it makes me feel better that I’m working on myself to get better. I see it as everyone else is getting their cake now, but I try to focus on my long-term goals.
How do you handle being so far away from home and rarely being able to return home because of your football schedule?
It’s been pretty tough, but when I get down and miss my family and see friends on Snapchat and stuff, I think about how me staying here and working hard will benefit my friends and family someday. I want to be able to change their lives one day. So, I see it as a sacrifice to make for my loved ones’ futures.
What are your future goals?
This one is easy for me to answer. I want to be the Heisman trophy winner, to be drafted in the next 2 years, and to be Illinois’ all-time leading rusher. Then when I retire from football, I hope to play for the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks.