Matt Corral was a four-star prospect and a consensus top 100 recruit amongst all recruitment services. He committed to Ole Miss and redshirted his freshmen season. Corral started four games as a redshirt freshman and then took over as the starting quarterback going into the 2020 season. Corral put up big numbers in his first season in Lane Kiffin’s scheme, leading the NCAA in total offense per game with 384.9 yards. He was top ten in the country in both passing yards per game (333.7), and passing touchdowns (29). This season Corral’s numbers were not as flashy but he progressed in multiple areas and did a lot to improve his draft stock.
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Player Bio
Name: Matt Corral
Jersey: No. 2
Position: Quarterback
School: Ole Miss
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205 lbs
Games Watched: Auburn (2021), Texas A&M (2021), Tennessee (2021), Alabama (2020), South Carolina (2020)
Major Injury History: None
Player Breakdown
Arm Talent (13/15)
Corral does not have the strongest arm in this class but he has the arm talent to make all of the necessary throws. There have been questions about his arm strength but when watching the film, Corral’s arm strength is not a problem at all. Several of his passes traveled 40-50 yards in the air while dropping right into the arms of the receiver. He throws a nice deep ball with good touch. Throws with good velocity when targeting receivers outside of the numbers. Drives the ball through coverage into tight windows. Has the kind of arm that makes it possible for him to make off-platform throws at all levels of the field with ease.
Accuracy (13/15)
Corral’s accuracy is one of his strongest traits. He completed 70.9 percent of his passes in 2020 and 67.7 percent of his passes in 2021. He has displayed NFL accuracy at all three levels of the field. Hits his receivers in stride on the deep ball. Leads receivers with his passes in the short, and intermediate area, giving them opportunities to gain yards after the catch. Has no problem layering the ball in between linebackers and safeties. Corral is a rhythm passer who can carve up a defense when he gets hot. In 2020, he completed over 85 percent of his passes and recorded over 400 passing yards in two consecutive games.
Decision Making (11/15)
Decision-making was Corral’s biggest downfall in 2020. He threw 14 interceptions and lost three fumbles in 10 games. But it was two particular performances that stood out; his six interception game against Arkansas; and a five-interception game against LSU. Both were very concerning and Corral made terrible decisions in each game. This is where he needed to improve most heading into 2021 and he did just that, throwing only five interceptions and losing two fumbles in 13 games. Reducing his turnover total from 17 to 8. He still has moments where he throws some risky passes but overall, Corral protected the ball this season.
Progressions (8/10)
Corral worked through his progressions well this season. He took what the defense gave him and did not try to force the big play as much compared to last season. Checking the ball down more played a big part in Corral cutting down on his turnovers. He played in an RPO-heavy offense so he often only had to make one read but when forced to scan the field, Corral showed potential. Locking onto his primary read was something that Corral needed to get better at and that is what he did this season. He was in complete control of the offense and was more comfortable standing in the pocket and finding open receivers.
Pocket Awareness (8.5/10)
Corral does a good job of maneuvering in the pocket and evading the rush. He uses his mobility to keep plays alive and does not take many bad sacks. Has a good mental clock and knows when to get rid of the ball. Feels the pressure and does not panic when the pocket collapses. Knows when to bail on the play and when to stand strong in the pocket and deliver. Has the athleticism to scramble more but he is more comfortable staying in the pocket and making throws. This is a great trait to have for the NFL and it will benefit him as a rookie if tasked with being a day one starter.
Anticipation/Touch (8/10)
Anticipating receivers being open before throwing the ball is a major trait for every quarterback and Corral shined in this area during the 2021 season. Trusting his eyes is the key to Corral’s exceptional anticipation and touch. He has a quick trigger and is decisive with the ball, making sure to hit his receivers at the right moment. Throws with great touch lofts the ball to his receivers putting the ball into spots where only his guy can get it. Understanding how to control his velocity makes it possible for him to make difficult throws look routine.
Out Of Structure (7.5/10)
Corral is most comfortable throwing from a clean pocket but when tasked with making off-script plays, he was successful more times than not. He throws well when evading the rush and scrambling outside of the pocket. Keeps his eyes downfield when the play breaks down and has the arm strength to make vertical throws while on the run. Being able to improvise is something Corral excels at. His athleticism makes it possible for him to keep plays alive when the defense has everything covered.
Mobility (8/10)
Corral is no Lamar Jackson as a runner but he can make plays with his legs. Corral rushed for over 1100 yards in the last two seasons combined. He showed what he can do rushing the ball throughout his career recording two games over 150 yards in his career and three games with multiple rushing touchdowns. He ended the 2021 season with 614 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Corral runs hard despite his size but it is not something that he can maintain in the NFL. He can extend plays in the pocket which is a headache for defenses. Corral won’t hesitate to take off from the pocket to gain positive yardage.
Mechanics (4/5)
He has proper throwing mechanics with a good base and solid footwork. Changes his arm angles when it is necessary while maintaining good form. He has a lightning-quick release. He’s mostly consistent with his footwork but sometimes he will get sloppy which will lead to some off-target throws. Like most rookie quarterbacks, Corral still needs to completely refine his mechanics but they will not be enough of a problem to prevent him from seeing the field as a rookie.
Player Summary
Corral is a bit undersized for the position at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds but he makes up for it in multiple areas. He had no problem making throws at all three levels of the field and his mobility is a plus. Corral’s legs will allow him to make plays while he gets up to par as far as making reads and improving his decision-making. Corral grades out as a second-round prospect but due to the lack of quality quarterbacks in this class, he will most likely be selected in the first round. He is second to only Malik Willis as far as upside while not being as risky of a pick due to him being a more polished passer. Corral will be best served in an RPO-heavy offense, that focuses on vertical passes early on in his career while he learns the intricacies of the position.
Rookie Projections: Low-End Starter
Third Year Projections: Mid-Level Starter
Final Grade: (81/100): Late Second Round
Player Comp: Zach Wilson
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