The Dallas Cowboys added an intriguing piece to their backfield Friday, signing former UFL rushing champion Jashaun Corbin to the 90-man roster as the 2026 training camp is at its peak.
Corbin takes the roster spot of undrafted rookie Dominic Richardson, who was waived by Dallas. For the Cowboys, it is a low-risk move that gives them another experienced runner to evaluate during training camp in Oxnard.
The 5-foot-11 Corbin went undrafted out of Florida State in 2022 and has spent the past few years trying to establish himself in the NFL.
He has had stops with the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, but his biggest production has come outside the NFL. That happened in the United Football League in 2025.
Now, as he gets another opportunity to prove himself with the Cowboys this time, Dallas already has Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Malik Davis competing for opportunities. That means Corbin has little margin for error to be a backup in the first place.
So, let’s understand what exactly the Cowboys are getting with the signing of Corbin.
What does the Cowboys’ news running back Jashaun Corbin do well?
Corbin’s biggest strength is his vision. He’s a decisive, one-cut runner who doesn’t waste much time once he identifies a hole. Rather than dancing behind the line of scrimmage, Corbin generally makes his decision and gets north quickly.
According to scout Chris Trapasso’s 2022 report, “[Corbin] absorbs contact well despite not being a super-thick back. Hands are decent too. Hits extra gear through the second level and is deceptively fast. Underrated back who can be productive as a starter in relief appearance or in a full-time role as a secondary type.”
That style could make him useful in a Cowboys backfield that already has several different types of runners.
The former Florida State RB is also capable of creating bigger plays when a running lane opens while doesn’t possess elite straight-line speed. But he has enough acceleration to turn a crease into a substantial gain.
He used these strengths in UFL and led the league with 514 rushing yards with 97 running attempts and four touchdowns for the San Antonio Brahmas in 2025 before following that up with 438 rushing yards (regular season) and three total touchdowns for the Orlando Storm in 2026.
In total, Corbin has made 233 rushing attempts, 40 receptions, and has scored seven touchdowns after playing 21 UFL games (20 regular seasons and one postseason).
To talk about more traits, his size is another positive. At 224 pounds, Corbin has the frame to handle contact and continue moving forward. He’s not afraid of traffic and generally does a good job keeping his legs moving through contact.
Another thing is, his receiving ability is also worth watching during Dallas’ training camp. During his four-year college career (2018, 2019 at Texas A&M and 2020, 2021 at FSU), Corbin has caught 60 passes, made 320 rushing attempts, and posted 17 touchdowns in total.
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There’s also special-teams value. Corbin averaged 26.8 yards per kick return in the UFL in 2026, which could matter when Dallas begins making difficult roster decisions.
But along with these good traits about Corbin, his style of play also has some problems.
Where can Jashaun Corbin be better?
Corbin’s UFL production is impressive, but the UFL is not the NFL. The biggest question is whether his physical tools are good enough to translate against NFL defenders.
Corbin isn’t an explosive home-run hitter. Scouts have questioned whether he has the top-end speed to consistently outrun NFL defensive backs, while his burst testing has landed around the 39th percentile among running backs.
His change of direction is another limitation. Corbin is at his best when he can make one decisive cut and get downhill. He’s not the type of running back who is going to repeatedly make defenders miss in confined spaces with sudden lateral movement.
That becomes a much bigger issue in the NFL, where running lanes close faster and linebackers are considerably more athletic than the defenders he faced in the UFL. And his NFL résumé doesn’t provide much evidence that he has already solved that problem.
Corbin appeared in six games for the Giants in 2023 and received only one rushing attempt, gaining one yard, where he also caught three passes for 12 yards.
Most of his professional career has been spent fighting for practice-squad or camp opportunities. And that’s the reality the Cowboys are betting against.
What does Corbin’s signing mean for Dallas?
Dallas has invested in several backs this offseason, and the competition will become increasingly difficult as the roster moves toward the 53-man limit. Corbin has to prove he offers something the other backs don’t, whether that’s his physical running style, receiving ability, return skills, or overall reliability.
Dominating spring football doesn’t guarantee NFL success, but Corbin has consistently produced when given significant opportunities. As one scout has already mentioned, he can be a starting RB in the big leagues.
However, his challenge now is doing the same thing against NFL competition in a Cowboys uniform, where the offense is already good.
Corbin has yet to establish himself as a legitimate NFL running back, and he’s walking into a crowded Cowboys backfield where every carry during training camp matters.
The most realistic outcome is a battle for a practice-squad spot, with an outside chance of earning a roster position if he separates himself from the competition.
So for the Cowboys, that’s precisely why signing Jashaun Corbin makes sense. Dallas can evaluate him during training camp, see whether his UFL production translates to the NFL level and move on if it doesn’t.
Corbin has already shown he can dominate spring football. Now, in Oxnard, he gets another chance to prove he belongs on an NFL roster.
