COLLEGE PARK — Illinois junior running back Reggie Corbin has received less touches in the past two weeks than he did earlier in the season.
But that doesn’t mean the Gonzaga College High product won’t be a subject of concern for the Maryland defense when the Big Ten Conference teams meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in College Park.
The Terrapins (4-3, 2-2 in the Big Ten) are two wins shy of bowl eligibility, while struggling Illinois (3-4, 1-3) has allowed 46 points in each of its last two games.
The Upper Marlboro native Corbin ran just nine times, but gained 100 yards in Illinois’ 46-20 loss on Saturday at Wisconsin. The 5-foot-10 Corbin has accumulated 584 yards on 74 carries, including a season-high 15 attempts in the second game of the season. He also has nine catches for 92 yards.
“They are running the ball, they are gaining yards,” Maryland interim coach Matt Canada said. “(Corbin) is getting the credit.”
But Corbin is also getting some of the blame, as he lost two fumbles in the loss to Wisconsin.
“I have to take care of the ball,” Corbin told the Chicago Tribune. “That’s probably why we lost the game anyway.”
Corbin is third in FBS and first in the conference in yards per carry at 7.89 and has a team-high six touchdowns. Besides playing football, he also led Gonzaga to two straight national rugby titles while in high school.
The Illinois offense also features quarterback A.J. Bush, Jr., a transfer from Virginia Tech who has rushed for more than 100 yards in two games this season. He was injured and did not play against South Florida and Penn State, but has appeared in the last three contests.
Fellow Illinois quarterback M.J. Rivers II completed seven of 13 passes against Wisconsin, while Bush was 2-for-8.
The Maryland defense will have a scout on the field in senior linebacker Tre Watson, who transferred to College Park as a graduate after playing four years at Illinois.
Watson leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the country in solo tackles at 6.6 per game. His father, Tim, played in the NFL from 1993-97 with the Chiefs, Giants and Eagles.
“Obviously there was a need there (at linebacker). He stepped in,” Canada said. “He has worked his way in. Tre is a very good football player, there is no question about that. He has earned the respect of his teammates. We are very fortunate he is on our football team. He is playing at a high level. He is very important part of our defense.”
But the Terps’ biggest problem is offense, which was blanked in a 23-0 loss on Saturday at Iowa.
Maryland had just seven first downs and rushed for 68 yards on 23 carries against the Hawkeyes. The Terrapins were 6-for-16 passing with one touchdown and just 47 yards.
“Nobody wants to lose a football game,” Canada said. “We put so much into it. When you put that much into a game it is hard to lose. If it is not hard to lose you have a problem. It was very disappointing the way we played. I take it very personal. We have to play better offense. I take it personal, yeah, for sure.”
Canada hopes to get the ball into the hands more for running back Ty Johnson, who had just four carries at Iowa. He had nine carries in the previous game for 132 yards.
“Ty is a great player,” Canada said. “It is on me. The (game) plan didn’t work.”
This may be one of the best chances for Maryland to get a needed win toward bowl eligibility, as the Terps end the season home with Michigan State, at Indiana, home with No. 11 Ohio State and at No. 17 Penn State.
The Maryland offense may be challenged again Saturday against Illinois coach Lovie Smith, the former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach who is in his third season with Illinois.
“Coach Smith has been coaching a long time,” Canada said. “A great challenge for us.”
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