A special player gets a special role...Jets looking to exploit Malachi Corley's skillset

An explosive athlete with unique physical traits, Malachi Corley has the kind of explosiveness that can change games. Now, it is up to the New York Jets to figure out how to best use their rookie playmaker.

And one way for the Jets to get the ball in Corley’s hands is on special teams.

In the Jets preseason opener on Saturday against the Washington Commanders, Corley took a kickoff return for 33 yards and fielded one punt. At Western Kentucky, Corley was not utilized on special teams.

Corley, at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, has often been compared to a running back with his build. But he has impressive speed and explosiveness, something that the Jets seem to be looking to exploit on special teams.

“It is just very comfortable for me, even though I didn’t get the opportunity to really put it on film in college a lot. But you know, they gave me reps after reps after reps and kind of just build my confidence through reps and you know, that’s what I need,” Corley told reporters on Thursday.

“Being on kick return, punt return is something that I’m looking forward to, excited to do all season.”

Corley likened the new kickoff return to a “gap-scheme” run.

He ran a reported time of 4.45 in the 40 at his Pro Day. In Saturday’s preseason opener, Corley also had four catches for 27 yards.

“So Malachi, what’s been really good is we all know what he can do with the ball in his hands,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“And we’ve been able to kind of manufacture some situations where he does get it, and he’s as advertised when that balls in his hands, so he’s been growing, still a long way to go with his route running, and understanding

the same thing that Garrett [Wilson] went through, just being where he needs to be as fast as he can get there, and just fine tuning his routes, his stems, his leverage, understanding his leverage and learning how to create separation, but love his mindset. I love the way he works. It’s very, very important to him

and he’s going to be a really good player.”