5 college passers the Steelers should keep tabs on in 2021
By Brendan Howe
Matt Corral
Under Lane Kiffin’s stewardship, Matt Corral excelled last year after beating out the athletic John Rhys Plumlee for the top spot on the depth chart.
One needs to go no further than the early weeks of Mississippi’s 2020 campaign to notice Corral’s aptitude. As a third-year sophomore, he was able to give problems to a pair of top-five ranked conference foes.
He began the schedule by setting single-game career highs in completions, passing yards, and passing scores against No. 5 Florida. Two Saturdays later, he and the Rebels went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Alabama.
Hosting the eventual national champions, he went 21-of-28 for 365 yards and two touchdowns in a shootout. A Crimson Tide defense has never given up more than the 647 total yards Corral’s offense compiled. The 48 points put up in the loss were the most ‘Bama had ever allowed to an unranked challenger in the AP Poll era.
Corral was true on 71% of his attempts while slinging the football for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns. If Corral can limit his giveaways—he threw 14 picks last season—and help the Rebels put up a fight in the competitive SEC West, he should be able to climb up draft boards.