2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Corral





  • Matt Corral, 6-1/205

  • Quarterback

  • Ole Miss


  • Matt Corral Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Accurate passer
  • Vastly improved decision maker in 2021
  • Quality ball placement
  • Throws a very catchable ball
  • Can throw receivers open
  • Beats good coverage with accuracy, placement
  • Has feel; shows some passing instincts
  • Able to loft in touch passes
  • Advanced field vision
  • Moves eyes through progressions
  • Quality arm
  • Can push the ball vertically
  • Can fire fastballs into tight windows
  • Good internal clock
  • Mastered his offense
  • Ball security was very improved in 2021
  • Mobility
  • Dual-threat to hurt defenses on the ground
  • Dangerous to pick up yards on the ground
  • Will juke defenders in the open field
  • Can be difficult to sack
  • Tough; plays injured
  • Said to be a hard worker in 2021




  • Weaknesses:
  • Needs to get faster working through progressions
  • A little shorter than ideal
  • Can play with a gunslinger mentality
  • Had maturity and character issues early in college


  • Summary: Corral was a top recruit coming out of high school, but he did not impress as a freshman in 2019, completing 59 percent of his passes for 1,362 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Corral showed good development under Lane Kiffin, and in 2020, it looked like he was starting to realize the potential that made him a top recruit. The sophomore completed 71 percent of his passes that season for 3,337 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 506 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Corral’s interceptions came in bunches, as he threw five picks in a narrow loss to LSU and six interceptions against Arkansas. He had a combined three interceptions over the other eight games.

    Corral completed 68 percent of his passes in 2021 for 3,334 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. He rushed for 11 touchdowns and 597 yards as well. The junior played with an injury for part of the year and led Ole Miss to one of its best seasons in program history.

    As a passer, Corral is an aggressive trigger man who can rip a defense apart. He has a strong arm and is capable of going vertical to challenge defenses downfield. Corral is able to spin the ball to fire fastballs into tight windows in the short to intermediate part of the field. He flashes some accuracy, but could stand to develop his placement. Corral makes some big-time throws and isn’t scared to challenge defenses. Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin did a nice job of teaching Corral the Ole Miss offense, as Corral showed advanced intelligence to know where his receivers would be, and he already looked very natural executing the offense in his first season under Kiffin.

    On top of being a dangerous passer, Corral hurts defenses with athleticism and running ability. He is a real threat to pick up yardage on the ground, showing a burst as a runner and some surprising elusive moves in the open field. It isn’t all that common to see SEC defenders get juked by a quarterback, but Corral did that regularly in 2020. On top of elusiveness, Corral is a tough runner who lowers his shoulder and tries to pick up yards after contact. He might need to do that less in the NFL because he would take some big hits. Instead, he should learn to slide more to protect himself from injury.



    Corral does a nice job of scrambling to buy time to make throws on the run. When plays break down, he can make things happen off structure by picking up yards or letting his receivers break off routes to get open downfield. Dual-threat ability like Corral’s is en vogue in the NFL, and a lot of teams should be intrigued with his skill set.

    Corral needs to get faster at working through progressions and moving beyond his first read. That is a point of improvement for the majority of quarterbacks going to the NFL. As a junior, Corral showed vast improvement in his decision-making and did a great job of cutting out the meltdown performances. Sometimes, he looks like he is wary of overthrowing receivers, so that leads to him overcompensating and leaving his ball placement a little off. Corral has a tendency to have passes a little short, behind, or low in order to make sure he gets the completion. That leads to receivers reaching and behind at times to make the catch. If Corral improves his timing, that should help to improve his ball location. It would also help him to throw receivers open and lead them for more yards after the catch.

    Corral had some maturity and off-the-field issues early in his college career. There are reports, however, that he really matured and in his final season was putting in long hours of studying football and working hard to be the best he could be.

    Some sources have concerns that Corral is a product of Lane Kiffin’s system, but there are plenty of teams in need of a young franchise quarterback. Some teams have given Corral a second-round grade, but he could be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He should not slide lower than Round 3.



    Player Comparison: Taylor Heinicke. Some team sources compared Corral to Heinicke in terms of skill set and gritty style of play.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2022 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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