Matt Corral on Panthers starting quarterback job: ‘My mentality is to be starter’

Matt Corral is officially a member of the Carolina Panthers and for a franchise with plenty of questions surrounding the quarterback position in 2022, the former Ole Miss signal caller is preparing for a quarterback competition.

“If I know the playbook, I’m going to be ready to play,” Corral said when asked about the role, via Darin Gantt of the team website. “As far as getting ready to be a starter, of course, my mentality is to be a starter. But right now, I’m trying to get on that 53-man roster.”

Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Friday he “wouldn’t say no” to a veteran addition at the position and affirmed Sam Darnold is the starter for now. But Rhule also didn’t rule out Matt Corral competing for the job this season with expectations the rookie will win the job at some point in the future.

“When we watched the tape, we loved the way that Matt played,” Rhule said. “At the end of the day, when we went back, we loved the way he played. His release, his moxie. He’s gotten injured a little bit because he runs guys over or tries to run guys over.

“But at the end of the day, it’s still a game of who has the ability to throw the ball. And we just love the way he throws the ball. His release, his vision, his timing — we thought it would translate over to this level.”

Matt Corral states his intentions with Carolina Panthers following 2022 NFL Draft

Selecting Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral with the No. 94 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers are setting up a quarterback battle for the 2022 season. However, they still have former New York Jet Sam Darnold, who has received some votes of confidence this offseason from the Panthers staff.

Reporters asked the newest Panthers quarterback his intentions for year one and how he plans to approach his first NFL quarterback battle.

“My approach is just to be the best I can be each and every day, get one percent better every day,” Corral said. “My competitive nature is obviously going to want me to be the starter and I’m going to do everything in my power to do that, I’m just going to put my best foot forward and again, just let God take control.”

The Panthers traded the No. 137 overall pick and a future third-rounder to the New England Patriots for the No. 94 pick. 

Corral was a former four-star recruit according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Corral was fifth amongst quarterbacks in the 2018 recruiting class.

In 2020, Corral had his breakout season and led the FBS in total offense with 384.3 yards per game. He ranked top-ten in passing efficiency, touchdowns and yards in his 10 starts — and was a Manning Award finalist. In their Outback Bowl win over Indiana, Corral threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. His final season saw him finish seventh in Heisman Trophy voting in a season. He threw for 3,349 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions — as well as rushing for another 11 touchdowns.