Matt Corral: Lane Kiffin makes bold NFL Draft prediction on Ole Miss QB

Matt Corral has transformed into one of the clear-cut top quarterbacks in college football under Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

The Rebels quarterback went through plenty of growing pains early in his career, but when Kiffin came in to lead Ole Miss last season, the head coach and star signal caller began to form a special bond.

Now, after a Week One performance that catapulted Corral to the top of the Heisman conversation, expectations continue to grow.

“I’ve said it all along, the guy is really special, and if he keeps playing like this the guy is going to make a lot of money as a top-10 NFL pick,” Kiffin said of Matt Corral’s potential NFL future.

Ole Miss hasn’t had a first-round quarterback since Eli Manning went No. 1 in 2004.

“He was throwing it 70 yards with accuracy, and he’s not a huge guy [6-foot-2, 205 pounds]. But his whole upper body is loose, really loose. When he does our flexibility test where he puts his arms back, it’s amazing how far back he can go. He’s also a very good quarterback scrambler. He’s not going to be the fastest guy at the [NFL] combine, but he’s got really good feet and is slippery once he starts running,” Kiffin told ESPN just before this year’s season opener.

Heisman frontrunner?

Matt Corral was everything and more against Louisville on Monday night, a performance that catapulted him into the Heisman Trophy conversation when it matters.

As a passer, he finished 22-of-32 for 381 yards and a touchdown. The Ole Miss quarterback reminded the country of his dual-threat ability, too, tacking on 12 rushes for 55 yards and another score.

Pro Football focused released the top-three Heisman frontrunners after Week 1, and Corral ranked third, just behind Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler and Alabama’s Bryce Young.

Matt Corral’s dual-threat ability elevating stock

Corral isn’t going to make his living running the ball, but when asked about his quarterback’s toughness, Kiffin brought up the threat as an added dimension that is only helping his young signal caller become more versatile.

“I think in all football, especially college football, when you can pull the ball and be a threat, you don’t have to be Lamar Jackson,” Kiffin said. “But when you can pull the ball and become that threat, it changes how they have to play defense. You saw that, they were closing, he [Corral] pulled the pull, and he made significant plays on them. Those are not designed quarterback runs. Those are usually handoffs unless the defense takes the delay.”

Corral was responsible for 17 of the Rebels’ 18 turnovers a season ago as a redshirt sophomore, including 14 interceptions.

But in his first season as the starter and after learning a new system under Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, Corral led the country in total offense (384.3 yards per game). He also finished as the only FBS player with more than 500 rushing yards (506) and more than 2,700 passing yards (3,337 yards) — and did it in 10 games.

It’s still early, but it’s clear both Kiffin and outside media outlets have high hopes for Matt Corral to continue to thrive this season, make a push for the Heisman and take his talents to the NFL as one of the best quarterbacks of his class.