Posted by SJSdude on 8/30/2007, 7:08 am Some kids prepare for college by taking practice SAT tests. Corbella, an aspiring college football player, also prepares with his workout regimen. Specifically, improving his footwork and speed. "I've been looking at who is highly recruited and what they're saying about them," said Corbella, who is six feet, 190 pounds. "I figured speed is what kills in football. I used to think it was size and strength. I was wrong" So Corbella, an all-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League linebacker and All-County punter, worked on his running. When national combine testing rolled into the Bay Area last February, Corbella was ready. He surprised even himself with his performance. Corbella posted the fastest time in the 20-yard shuttle at the Nike Camp at Chabot College in Hayward, finishing in 3.88 seconds. Nearly 800 standout football players took part in the testing, which also included bench press, 40-yard dash, and vertical jump. His shuttle time was one of the fastest in the nation. "I look at the combines like a job interview," he said. "I knew if you put up good numbers that it could be a start of them looking at you" Corbella also benched 185 pounds 20 times, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds and posted a 31.3-inch vertical. The interest letters started rolling in — San Jose State, Washington State, Fresno, Cal and UC Davis were among the early suitors. Corbella kept up with his training. He joined the track team instead of playing baseball in the spring, competing in the 100 and 200 meters and the 110 hurdle sprint races, placing in the 100 and 200 at league championships. This year, Corbella will again play linebacker, but he has moved from tight end to running back on offense, taking over for graduated starter Zack Trap. In the Falcons' 23-21 season-opening loss to Kealakehe in Hawaii on Aug. 17, Corbella rushed for a team-high 129 yards on 16 carries. It was the sixth-highest single-game rushing total for the Falcons, now in their eighth season of varsity. "He's a slasher," Falcons coach Louie Walters said of Corbella, who was named to Cal-Hi Sports' preseason All-CCS team. "It's kind of weird he's not a bulldozing running back. But you look at his shuttle time, it helps his cause of his quickness. We knew he was going to be a good one" How good remains to be seen. The Falcons are counting on Corbella to shine on both sides of the ball and help the team repeat as league champion and playoff qualifier. Corbella wants more. He wants to rush for 1,500 yards, which would shatter the school mark of 971 yards set by Tony Lopez in 2005. And he feels there's no better time, given that many people in the program say the school has its best offensive line yet. Walters has reservations, though. He said he rode the hot hand in Hawaii, but doesn't plan on giving Corbella that many carries on a regular basis. He wants his senior saved up for defense. It's a pleasant dilemma. "He reads blockers real well," Walters said. "He has the ability to squeeze through small cracks and make something of it" Corbella's dad, Dean, said his son takes care of his body, watches what he eats and works out a ton. "He looks like a thoroughbred," Dean said. "He looks like he's built for speed" But he doesn't always give that impression. The soft-spoken Falcon also likes hanging out with friends, watching movies, fishing and listening to country music. He has a mellow side, Walters said, but you put some pads on him and the football player takes over. It can make you do a double-take, seeing a kid his size run as fast as he does. "He's one of our faster kids," Walters said, sounding like he was in disbelief. "But I didn't think he was that fast" Contact Jim Seimas at jseimas@santacruzsentinel.com.
Link: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/August/30/sport/stories/01sport.htm
198.246.227.2
Kickoff 2007: A.J. Corbella getting footloose at Scotts Valley
By JIM SEIMAS
Sentinel staff writer
Scotts Valley High's A.J. Corbella has his eye on the future.
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