2022 NFL Draft: Resume game awaits for Ole Miss QB Matt Corral

Ole Miss QB Matt Corral has a potential resume game looming against Alabama, which could be huge for his 2022 NFL Draft stock.

The quarterback class has been an enigma so far in the college football season, with the consensus top guys starting to slip and others raising their stock. One of those quarterbacks who is trending up is Mississippi’s Matt Corral. Corral’s tape in 2020 is one of extremely high variance, with excellent throws followed by boneheaded turnovers.

The 2021 season has been one of improvement for Corral thus far. He had a fantastic opening game against Louisville, showing off the quick release, mobility, and unreal placement on a few throws. He’s played very efficient football and has pushed the ball to all levels of the field. His nine touchdowns, zero interceptions, and 10.4 yards per attempt are proof of the jump he’s made.

Despite all that, Corral has one thing missing that would start to cement his stock for the 2022 NFL Draft: a big resume game. The good news is that this weekend provides him the opportunity to prove he’s the top guy in the draft, as Ole Miss collides with Alabama. The Alabama defense is no joke, and they have multiple guys, including sophomore stud Will Anderson, that can get after the quarterback. Their secondary is experienced, and they have a great duo at linebacker.

This is a game that will test Corral’s patience, poise, and potentially, how he fares when trailing and after making a mistake. Corral will have to stand tall in the face of pressure, and respond well should he make a mistake. It will be interesting to see if he presses at all in this game should Mississippi fall behind. His placement has taken a step forward this year, and placement will be key against a team that has defenders who are sticky in coverage.

The good news is that Corral has the mobility to evade pressure, maneuver around the pocket to buy time, and make plays on the move. Seeing his improvisation in action this weekend will be fun against Alabama, and he has playmakers on his team to stress this Crimson Tide defense vertically.

This will be the toughest test Matt Corral will face this year, and you can bet scouts from everywhere will be in attendance for this one. In a resume game, can Corral stand tall and build a legend before the 2022 NFL Draft? Time will tell.