Published: August 30, 2008 11:52 pm      

BILLS: Reggie Corner rookie card

Reggie Corner

- AGE: 24

- DRAFT: Fourth round, 114th overall

- COLLEGE: Akron

- POSITION: Cornerback

- HEIGHT: 5-foot-9

- WEIGHT: 175

- HOMETOWN: Canton, Ohio



PITTSFORD — Most everyone expected Buffalo to come out of last April’s draft with an improved crop of cornerbacks. Little did we know that come cutdown day, fourth-round pick Reggie Corner would’ve made the biggest initial impact on the Bills’ secondary.

While No. 11 overall selection Leodis McKelvin has been sensational so far on kick returns, his defensive play has been inconsistent. Meanwhile, Corner, 24, has shown skill and savvy — and now figures to be the Bills’ nickel back after veteran Will James didn’t make the 53-man roster.

Corner spent most of training camp working as the slot corner with the second team, backing up James. Lately, Ashton Youboty has practiced in that spot as well. There’s an argument to be made that Corner’s emergence — along with the presence of McKelvin — inspired Youboty’s strong preseason, allowing the Bills’ to get a better return on their third-round investment from 2006.

“Reggie is improving every day,” defensive backs coach George Catavolos said. “He has typical problems that a rookie has, with leverage. But we like his athletic ability, his enthusiasm, he plays hard in the games, and he’s productive.”

Just like starters Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer, Corner is relatively short (5-foot-9) for his position. That’s certainly one reason he slipped to the fourth round after an outstanding career at Akron.

Starting 46 games for the Zips, Corner led the team in interceptions all four years, finishing with 15 in his career. He also deflected 35 passes in 48 games he played. During his all-conference senior season, Corner ranked fourth in the country with seven interceptions.

The Mid-American Conference doesn’t produce many NFL-caliber receivers, but Corner said he had to cover several future professionals during non-conference games, including Indiana’s James Hardy, whom the Bills selected in the second round. He also said there were plenty of tough matchups in the MAC, particularly when the Zips visited the University at Buffalo last year.

And, of course, “no conference is like the NFL,” Corner added.

“They played some pretty high-profile schools and some top-level receivers,” Catavolos said. “We feel like we have a pretty good (amount of ) information back on the young man.”

Blessed with the perfect last name for his position and born in the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Corner has also shown a desire to learn that should ease his transition to the NFL. He noted in his BuffaloBills.com blog that Greer, McGee, James and safety George Wilson have all been helpful in answering his questions.

“Those guys are for really about wanting to be the best secondary in the NFL,” Corner wrote. “So those are the guys I will continue to follow here.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.