Northfield's Corbin Prepares For Next Level Through All-Star Game

This week became a stepping stone for Northfield graduate Josh Corbin.

Corbin is in transition mode at the moment. Fresh off his senior season with the Raiders football team, the offensive lineman will transition into the college game this summer playing for the University of St. Thomas.

So going through this week’s training camp leading into Saturday’s 38th Annual Minnesota All-Star Football Game has helped Corbin bridge the two levels of play.

“It’s been fun getting to see some guys I’ll be playing with in a couple weeks,” he said. “It’s been fun to make friends.”

Corbin will take the field at 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. When he does, he’ll finish up a high school career that included three state tournament appearances and a wealth of memories in a Raiders uniform.

He’ll use the work ethic he groomed in Northfield to compete against the state’s best this weekend, and then it’s off to St. Thomas where he’ll continue his football career.

Raiders coach Bubba Sullivan, who is an assistant on this year’s South All-Star squad, said Corbin’s work ethic and leadership skills set him apart.

“He’s probably one of the top two or three leaders I’ve had in my whole career,” Sullivan said. “Not just on the football field, but in school and around school.”

It’s that type of drive that helped Corbin evolve as a player during his three years on varsity—beginning as a fullback and linebacker during the Raiders’ state championship game run in 2008 and then evolving to the offensive and defensive lines over the next two years.

Now, a new evolution is about to begin. During this week’s training camp, Corbin learned the values of quick, concise practices and fast-paced drills.

“It’s such a new setup running the system,” Corbin said. “I can definitely see myself having a lot of fun if it’s like this in college.”

What also makes this transition period so gratifying for both Sullivan and Corbin is they get to do it together. It’s Sullivan’s second stint on an All-Star Game coaching staff, and this time around he gets to watch Corbin continue his football career and enjoy some of the perks that come with the week of competition—specifically, the friendships he’s made while living in the dorms and participating in the off-the-field bonding activities.

“That’s one of the neat things about it,” Sullivan said. “You get to meet people from all over the state. I hope he enjoys his time here, has some fun, and you also get a little taste of college life.”

Corbin said that’s exactly what he’s doing.

“Everyone wants to compete and have fun,” he said. “I think that’s the way it is for both the North and South. Everyone is excited and ready to go.”

GAME INFORMATION
38th annual All-Star Game
North vs. South (formerly Metro vs. Outstate)
7 p.m. Saturday, TCF Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota