2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Michael Corbi, OG, Villanova University

• Name: Michael Corbi
• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 330 lbs.
• Position: OG
• College: Villanova University
• Twitter: mcorbi73
• Instagram: michael.corbi

Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
At Villanova, I am a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Psychology with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. I am also in the Italian Club and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It’s a lot on my plate, yet Villanova is truly an academics-first program. They have an entire staff devoted to helping student-athletes succeed on the academic side of things. They have study hall times, school materials, and tutors, and can answer any overall questions we have or point us to someone who can help.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?
I asked my teammates sitting beside me as I’m doing this interview, and they said my “ability to flip a switch.” I consider myself a very nice person, that is until I put on a football helmet. I play a very aggressive style, and I like it that way, yet I am very far from an aggressive person off the field.

What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?
I see myself as a leader on the team, but not in an overly vocal way. I lead by example and show younger teammates how things are done at Villanova. I also see myself as a tone setter. Obviously, I cannot score touchdowns or sack a QB to get the team excited, but driving my guy into the sideline and pancaking him at the feet of my teammates will get everyone going. I love playing in a pin-and-pull scheme. Blocking down and pulling are two of the most fun things to do in football. I also perform very well in the open field, so pulling and screens are always fun plays to run.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
There’s been a lot of great players, and I don’t know if I could pick just one. The names that come to mind are PJ Mustipher from Penn State, Mike Greene from JMU, or the entire Richmond D Line.

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
Playing with Forrest Rhyne was truly an honor. The way he worked to perfect his craft every second of every day was inspiring, and he would bring his teammates along with him. Truly the definition of a leader and a hard worker. He deserves every bit of his Colts contract and more.

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
One of my best friends in high school passed away in a car crash almost a year ago. We didn’t talk all the time, but it is really hard to know that I can no longer reach out. It was a rough few weeks immediately after he passed, but knowing we were always some of each other’s biggest supporters makes me just want to play a little bit harder every snap. 

If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
Soccer. No question. I get made fun of all the time for being as big of a soccer fan as I am by my teammates who think it is a wussy sport. I am a die hard Juventus and Italy fan and played soccer from when I was 4 until freshman year of high school when I was too big to play soccer anymore. So, I switched to football.

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
Being named All-American were two of my proudest achievements. I was a walk-on coming in and virtually every Division I college thought I was too short to be an effective OL, but Villanova gave me a spot on the team and helped me get into a top 50 university in America. After last season, I was named one of the top 10 OL in FCS football so I’m happy to prove Villanova right and all the other coaches wrong.

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.
The 4th and 1 versus JMU this past season. Up 1 with a minute left at JMU. We went for it. Inside zone. We had one of the best RBs in the nation in Justin Covington and needed only one yard. They knew we were going up the middle, we knew it, everyone who has ever watched football knew it. It was up to us OL to move their DL off the ball. Everything we had left in the tank for one last play. We get the first, we win. If we don’t, they are already in field goal range with one of the best kickers in the country. We got it, won the game, and knocked off the power house that was JMU.

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?
My favorite athlete in sports is Gianluigi Buffon of Parma, formerly Juventus and Italy. But in football I grew up a die hard Ravens fan and always loved Marshal Yanda. He’s gritty, reliable, tough, great at football. He is the reason I wear #73. I feel that I model my game more after Ryan Jensen though. He used to be a Raven, but now he’s the pro bowl center for the Bucs. He plays the game like they did back in the day with the intention of putting his opponent on their back every single play, and that’s how I love to play the game.

Who is your favorite music artist? What gets you pumped before a game?
My favorite artist is Luke Combs hands down, but I can’t listen to country before a game. I like listening to music without words before games so that I can lock in and focus on my assignment. A lot of classical music and Marvel fight scene music as nerdy as that is. 

What is your favorite comfort food?
I will never turn down sushi. I could eat sushi 7 nights a week if it wasn’t super expensive.

Do you have a favorite movie, TV show or actor?
I love any Spiderman movie, especially Into the Spiderverse.

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Any secret talents?
I am a big FIFA guy. I could play FIFA on the Xbox for hours. I’m far from pro gaming talent level, but I’m the best FIFA player on Villanova Football, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?

For the love of the game. I don’t have one of those cinematic stories about why I play the game. I just play because I have the opportunity to play the game I love and prove that I belong there.