By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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A fascinating mix of production and potential, Jashaun Corbin, a former program pledge, is ready for his new role.

The addition and waiver of immediate eligibility for Texas A&M-transfer Jashaun Corbin gives Florida State a much-needed boost in the offensive backfield. Starting at running back for the Aggies before missing most of last season due to injury, Corbin is a dynamic playmaker who gives new head coach Mike Norvell another home run option on offense. Corbin will help the Seminoles replace standout Cam Akers at the position, a player soon to be a high pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

A fascinating mix of production and potential, Corbin, a former program pledge, is ready for his new role.

Though Corbin played in just 14 games in College Station, mostly as a true freshman, he still compiled over 1,000 career all-purpose yards. Corbin, quite notably, also scored as a runner, a receiver and a return specialist during his limited stint at Texas A&M. For point of reference, only two Florida State players this millennium have scored those three ways, program greats Leon Washington and Kermit Whitfield, talents who combined to play in 95 career contests. Corbin, needless to say, brings rare versatility to Tallahassee.

Opening his sophomore season with considerable momentum pre-injury, Corbin’s last complete college outing was arguably his best. Corbin, atop the depth chart for Texas A&M, rushed 22 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in a win over Texas State, adding four receptions and another score through the air. Before getting hurt the very next week at Clemson, he was clearly going to be a major offensive focal point. With upside off the charts, Corbin, ready for any and all opportunities, is just now settling in.

At 6’0”, 213 pounds, the multi-faceted Corbin can do it all.

In year one at Texas A&M, Corbin earned Freshman All-SEC honors after averaging over 30 yards per kickoff return, 5.6 yards per rush and 8.5 yards per reception. He led all of Power Five football with a kick return margin of 30.14 yards per attempt. Corbin, among other highlights, formerly introduced himself to the Arkansas rivalry in AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, by promptly returning the opening kickoff a record 100 yards for a touchdown; the Aggies won the game by exactly seven points.

Though he headed west out of high school, Corbin, a Rockledge-native, is returning to familiar footing. He, a consensus four-star recruit from along Florida’s Space Coast, compiled nearly 4,000 all-purpose yards as an upperclassman, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards as a sophomore alone. When Corbin announced in late December he was transferring to Florida State, the program he was once committed to out of high school, he tweeted: “I’m coming home. Let’s get to work”.

Months later, the former Sunshine State prep standout was granted immediate eligibility, a major boost for Norvell and the Seminoles.

Corbin will be an important part of a Florida State team that has a strong foundation on which to build moving forward. The Seminoles, prior to Corbin’s welcome, got huge news when highly-touted professional prospects tackle Marvin Wilson and wide receiver Tamorrion Terry both decided to come back to school for another year. Florida State has multiple proven contributors returning from injury, players like Corbin who are now healthy and hungry alike. Norvell’s program is one with momentum.

Participating in workouts, Corbin, not long removed from being in a cast, looks the part. He is expected to be a key leader for the Seminoles right away and will team with the likes of former five-star recruit Khalan Laborn, redshirt Anthony Grant, Sun Bowl standout Deonte Sheffield and others, including some heralded freshmen, to help headline a running back room that could become one of the nation’s best. Norvell’s Memphis offense, in 2018, ranked fourth in the nation with 279.9 yards rushing per game. Florida State will want to run the football.

The Seminoles have added yet another playmaker to watch. Already, Corbin is ready to help lead Florida State forward.