By Jeremy Hritz
Name: Matt Corral
Birth Date: 1/31/1999 (22 years old)
Height: 6’0
Weight: 205
40-Yard Dash (estimated): 4.8
Class: Redshirt Junior
Today, I take a look at Redshirt Junior, Ole Miss quarterback, Matt Corral. Recently, Corral had a scary experience in the Sugar Bowl, in which it appeared he experienced a significant injury. Thankfully, the injury was not serious, and Corral is going to be just fine. This is great news, as to see this young man’s health and availability damaged as a result of his final college football game, negatively impacting his draft status, it would have been tragic.
From a statistical perspective, Corral has not been as prolific as some of the other college QBs I have profiled thus far, but he has still put up respectable numbers. This past season, Corral completed 67.9% of his passes for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, while over his career, he has thrown for a total of 8,287 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. Corral also provides excellent mobility and rushing prowess, amassing 1,338 yards during his career, in addition to 18 touchdowns, enhancing his play and making him difficult to defend.
Corral has great athleticism and shift in the pocket to buy time in order for his receivers to get open down field, and he has demonstrated good perception and feel of pressure and defenders in pursuit. Additionally, when the pocket breaks down, he has the speed and agility to be a threat as a runner and not just pick up a first down, but achieve a big gain by capitalizing on out-of-position opponents. He is also battled-tested, playing against high-level competition in the SEC, so there is confidence in knowing he produced against professional-level defensive talent. Corral displays good zip on the ball on intermediate passes, and touch at times in short range, while also selling play action well with believable fakes.
In terms of areas of concern, like many of the quarterbacks in the 2022 class, Corral is not a towering figure, at 6’0, 205, and his durability, especially considering the running element of his game, will be tested in the NFL. In terms of arm talent, he has a solid but not an exceptional arm, as his deep passes at times are underthrown, but he can still make all of the required throws. Finally, Corral needs to develop his consistency and continue to cut down on his mistakes. He did show growth in this area in 2021, slashing his interceptions from 14 in 2020 to 6 in 2021. However, with all young quarterbacks, there are going to be inconsistencies and elements of their game that need polished, but without question, Corral has the tools, that if developed, could make him a viable starter in the league.
As of now, all signs point to him being a mid to late first round selection, but there is a ways to go before this is decided.
Not someone I’d be interested in being old school. Not a nfl arm. Pass on him