Western Kentucky set to have preseason All-American wide receiver Malachi Corley back in action against Ohio State

Western Kentucky will have its star wide receiver back in action when it faces No. 6 Ohio State on Saturday.

Preseason All-American receiver Malachi Corley is set to play versus the Buckeyes, a source tells On3.

Corley left Western Kentucky’s Week 1 win over USF with an injury and didn’t play this past weekend during the Hilltoppers’ victory over Houston Christian. Corley, who is an early-round prospect for next year’s NFL draft, ranked fourth nationally last year with 101 catches and 1,293 receiving yards. His 11 receiving touchdowns were tied for seventh-most nationally. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Corley also ranked first nationally in both yards after the catch with 975 and missed tackles forced with 40.

Corley and WKU QB Austin Reed, who is viewed by NFL scouts as a Day 3 NFL draft prospect, are widely regarded as the top quarterback-wide receiver duo at the Group of Five level.

Led by those two, Western Kentucky ranked seventh in the nation in total offense last year as well as second in passing offense. 

Corley, who arrived at Western Kentucky as a running back in 2020 before transitioning to wide receiver, became a starter for the Hilltoppers by the end of 2020, then ranked third on WKU’s record-setting offense in 2021 with 73 catches and then broke out as a first-team All-Conference USA selection last season. Corley posted six 100-yard receiving games last year, including 114 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches during Western Kentucky’s 44-23 win over South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Corley had four catches for 55 yards during the first half of WKU’s Week 1 game against USF prior to leaving with the injury.

“That dude is like Deebo Samuel,” a Power Five assistant told On3 of Corley during the summer. “… I don’t know if (NFL scouts) have a player comparison on him or not yet, but I guarantee you that’s what they will all put, Deebo Samuel. He catches. He runs. He’s strong as s—-. He’s super physical. You just can’t tackle the guy. The dude’s contact balance is through the roof. There may not be a player in college football who’s better with the football in his hands.”

Western Kentucky, which finished last season 9-5, enters the matchup against Ohio State as a 27.5-point underdog.