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Matt Corral throwing at "100 percent" following ankle injury in Sugar Bowl

11by:Jake Thompson•03/02/22•

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Matt Corral
Matt Corral (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Two months after suffering an ankle injury during the Sugar Bowl, Matt Corral says he is almost fully recovered as he begins his preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft.

The former Ole Miss quarterback met with the media on Wednesday in Indianapolis where the NFL Combine is taking place this week. Corral is not participating in any throwing drills but is taking part in meetings with prospective teams.

Corral went down with the injury early in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor that took him out of his final college game prematurely. He gave an update on his progress on Wednesday.

“About two and a half weeks ago I started throwing and running,” Corral said. “I am throwing at 100 percent right now. I just started taking dropbacks about two and a half weeks ago. Before that I was just throwing from spots, not taking any dropbacks.

“I’m not able to perform physically (at the combine), but I can definitely show the teams what I know mentally.”

While Corral is not participating in the physical drills at the Combine he will be throwing at Ole Miss’ pro day that will be held later this month.

Once Corral was knocked out of the game with the injury the immediate commentary of should he, and other high-profiled NFL Draft prospects, play in bowl games and risk injury.

Throughout the weeks between the Egg Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, Corral said he never gave any thought of opting out and quitting the season earlier than the rest of his teammates. He doubled down that when asked on Wednesday of having any regrets in his decision to play.

“(NFL teams have asked) I regretted it, and I said, ‘Absolutely not,'” Corral said. “I never thought about opting out. … It was never a thought in my mind. I was going to play regardless.”

Corral noted that he met with the Pittsburgh Steelers already during his time in Indianapolis. Longtime Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement earlier this year after a 18-year career in the NFL.

The Falcons have also spoken with Corral, who he noted was the second team he’s met with. Matt Ryan is still the Falcon’s quarterback but having the opportunity to play behind Ryan appeals to Corral.

“I’d absolutely have no problem with that,” Corral said of playing with Ryan. “I’m a competitor but at the same time I absolutely want to be the guy. I’m absolutely going to push Matt Ryan and I’m going to learn as much as I can from him. I’d be dumb to not learn from a guy like that because at the end of the day he’s a guy that I want to be like. I want to be on a team 10-plus years.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. revealed his latest mock draft ahead of the Combine and had Corral dropping to the 32nd pick of the first round to Detroit Lions as part of a trade scenario.

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