Florida State running back and 2022 NFL Draft prospect Jashaun Corbin darted forward, took a handoff from Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson, and found a crease in the trenches. Corbin hit a hole to his right and surged a few yards toward the end zone.
As defenders pounced, Corbin bulldozed into paydirt with a handful of opponents on his back, scoring a touchdown in front of dozens of NFL scouts at the East-West Shrine Game in Las Vegas in February.
That touchdown was only the beginning of what has been a whirlwind three-month process for the NFL Draft hopeful.
2022 NFL Draft: Jashaun Corbin is riding a wave of momentum
Corbin, who split his college career between two-year stints at Texas A&M and Florida State, has been riding a wave of momentum towards the NFL Draft since taking part in the Shrine Game.
The 5-foot-11, 202-pound running back produced 55 total yards and a touchdown in the all-star game. From there, he was invited to the NFL Combine and took part in position drills in Indianapolis.
Then, after spending most of his draft journey working out with trainer Tony Villani at XPE Performance in Ft. Lauderdale, Corbin ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at FSU’s Pro Day in March in front of representatives from all 32 teams.
“It’s been a crazy three months,” Corbin told Pro Football Network. “But it’s been worth it.”
The non-stop process has paid off with increased attention from NFL clubs. Corbin has called his draft journey “surreal” to this point.
“I’ve met with eight or nine teams,” Corbin said. “It’s been great interacting with them. I’ve talked to the running back coach and offensive coordinator when teams hit me up. It’s been great. All positive feedback.”
Corbin has a history of standing out from the crowd
Corbin has been able to exchange pleasantries with NFL teams because of the way he concluded his college career.
After spending two years with Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, Corbin transferred to Florida State — his original college choice before Fisher’s 2018 departure — to be closer to his family in Rockledge, Fla. He immediately chose to wear No. 0 to make his mark on the program.
“The whole thing behind zero — I just wanted it to be kind of a legendary thing,” Corbin said. “My name is always going to be in Florida State books as the first player to wear number zero at Florida State. That’s something that they can’t take away, and I just felt that was something that would stand out.”
Rocking an unusual number in a somewhat familiar locale, Corbin emerged as a playmaker in Tallahassee. He produced 1,288 rushing yards, 229 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns during his two seasons with the Seminoles.
While the Florida State offense was based around multiple playmakers, Corbin — nicknamed “Hero Zero” by teammates — was able to finish strong as a redshirt junior, producing 887 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. That final campaign helped him score invitations to the Shrine Game and the NFL Combine in January.
Becoming a pro
Corbin has been projected as a Day 3 pick entering next week’s NFL Draft. While he faces a lot of competition within the running back class, Corbin should receive a phone call at some point during draft weekend.
With the ability to be used as a multi-purpose running back, Corbin has appeal as a rotational option in an NFL backfield. While he knows he has a lot to prove at the next level, Corbin thinks he offers a similar skill set to an NFL legend.
“Marshall Faulk is somebody that I feel like my game correlates with, as far as being a high-IQ guy,” Corbin said. “Being able to be versatile, catch the ball, run the ball — just basically an all-around back who can do everything.”
And while Corbin’s throwback comparison makes him sound like a bit of a historian, he’s also a keen observer of a trio of current NFL stars.
“Dalvin [Cook] is probably my favorite running back,” Corbin said. “Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey. Those are the three guys I like to watch.”
Soon, Corbin could be sharing a backfield with Cook, Kamara, or McCaffrey. With just a few days until the draft, he’s about to start a new journey in a new city with a new team.
Said Corbin: “This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.”