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Top 25 Players in AFL History: #14 John Corker

May 24, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - Continuing its countdown of the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History, the Silver Anniversary Committee has announced its selection for the 14th Greatest Player in AFL History: John Corker.

As a junior at Oklahoma State University, Corker was named the Big-8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker in 1978, despite tearing ligaments in his knee late in the season. After months of rehabilitation, he returned to the Cowboys for his senior season in 1979, earning Second-Team All Big-8 and All-American honors, recognitions that helped him become a fifth round selection of the Houston Oilers in the 1980 NFL Draft.

Corker joined the expansion-Detroit Drive of the Arena Football League in 1988. In his rookie season, Corker recorded just four tackles with a forced fumble and fumble recovery on defense, but did possess an impressive offensive stat line, catching three passes, all for touchdowns. His play on both sides of the ball as a rookie helped guide the Drive to their first ArenaBowl championship, a 24-13 victory over the Chicago Bruisers in ArenaBowl II.

The success of his rookie year in the AFL was enough for the Green Bay Packers to offer Corker a contract for the 1988 NFL season. Around the same time, the team brought in one of Corker's teammates with the Drive, receiver George LaFrance. Both, however, would return to Detroit for another championship run.

Corker would miss the 1989 AFL season, but came back to the Drive in 1990 to help the team to its third consecutive ArenaBowl title.

Corker's finest season came in 1991, when the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder was named the League's first Lineman of the Year. Corker recorded a career-high 19 tackles and eight sacks in addition to two more touchdown receptions. He recorded half a sack in a losing effort against quarterback Jay Gruden and the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl V and was selected First-Team All-Arena for his continued dominance on the offensive and defensive lines.

He remained with the Drive through the 1993 season before returning to his hometown of Miami in 1994 for a two-year stint with the Hooters. In his first season with the club, Corker tallied 15 tackles and five sacks to go along with eight pass breakups and an interception. He retired from the game after the 1995 season.

In 1996, Corker was named to the AFL's 10th Anniversary Team as an offensive and defensive lineman. Six years later, he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame as a member of the 2002 Class. As part of the AFL's celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the AFL Historical Committee selected Corker as the 19th Greatest Player in AFL History in 2006.

The League's Silver Anniversary Committee will continue to countdown its list of the 25 Greatest Players in AFL History each week throughout the 2012 regular season, with the announcements of the Top 5 during the postseason.

25 Greatest Players in AFL History

14. John Corker

15. Dwayne Dixon

16. Kurt Warner

17. Bob McMillen

18. Mark Grieb

19. Darryl Hammond

20. Alvin Rettig

21. Durwood Roquemore

22. Chris Jackson

23. Ben Bennett

24. Clevan Thomas

25. Gary Mullen

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