Sometimes NFL teams stumble onto a player — or players — who go undrafted that make a niche for themselves early. Such is the case of Kentucky defensive back Yusuf Corker, who was available for the New York Giants to scoop up after this year’s draft.
The Giants likely locked onto Corker while scouting wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who they selected in the second round this spring. And they just might have gotten lucky.
The Giants needed depth at safety behind Xavier McKinney and Julian Love. The 6-foot, 197-pound Corker is making his presence known on the practice field this summer.
“I think he’s been improving each day along with the rest of those guys,” head coach Brian Daboll said of Corker at the outset of training camp. “But he definitely has some good awareness. Good skillset. He’s instinctive. He’s done a good job at improving, much like all the rookies we have. And he’ll get his opportunities.”
And he has. With fourth-round pick Dane Belton out indefinitely with a broken collarbone, Corker has been getting key reps in drills. On Sunday, he was the player wearing the headset and relaying the defensive signals for the second team.
“At first, I was a little nervous getting the calls because it was my first time ever having a radio,” Corker told reporters on Sunday. “In college we really didn’t do the radio thing, we signaled from the sidelines. I think showing that they trust me to get the calls out there and make the checks.”
During the Fan Fest scrimmage on Friday inside of MetLife Stadium, Corker recorded an interception, which did not come as a surprise for anyone.
“Before the scrimmage we all had a defensive group meeting and I basically told everybody I was going to get a turnover that game,” he said. “You know, it was a pretty bold statement, but I believed in myself. Just running to the ball, good things always come when you run to the ball, so that’s how I got it.”
That was just his latest achievement. Corker has been a standout almost everyday this summer. His goals are simple and is proving that hard work backed by some solid football sense pays off.
“I’m just a guy that comes in every day and works hard. I’m studying right now trying to learn a different position. I feel like right now I’m doing a good job of just learning my position safety, but also just trying to show my versatility at other positions. Also, just learning the whole scheme of the defense and the whole scheme of the special teams,” he said.
The way things are shaping up, Corker might be more than just a backup and special teamer for Big Blue.
