Vanderbilt game could be the final bow at home for Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral

Saturday is Senior Day for many Ole Miss football players, but it is more than likely the final time fans will see other players don the red and blue inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as well.

The Rebels game against Vanderbilt could be the swan song for quarterback Matt Corral in Oxford.

A bold statement it is not, but one that rings more true than false.

In fact, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin went out of his way to make an “assumption” that Saturday would be the final day No. 2 plays on Hollingsworth Field.

“We say, ‘Don’t make assumptions,’ but I guess I am making a pretty safe assumption that our quarterback won’t be back,” Kiffin said on Monday when asked about having discussions with players about returning next year.

The prospects for Corral in next year’s NFL Draft are high.

Recent projections place Corral inside the Top 10, and, more specifically, drafted by the Washington Football Team.

The junior quarterback is considered one of the top at the position in this year’s draft class. He’s ranked within the Top 3, depending which draft expert people are reading or listening to.

Corral has the chance to go out by putting his team in the history books.

Currently, the Rebels are 6-0 at home this season, tying the program best set by the 1992 squad. With a win over Vanderbilt, the 2021 Rebels could set a new school record with a perfect 7-0 at Vaught-Hemingway.

The win would also set up the potential for the first 10-win regular season in program history.

Of course, the Rebels will have to get past surging in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving.

Kiffin’s starting quarterback is not the only player who has the option to return that might not be in Oxford come next August.

There are 25 juniors on this year’s roster who all have a decision or two to make. Of course, not every one of them has the decision of leaving early for the NFL Draft, but some could have a decision that involves a certain portal.

The running back room has two juniors in Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy. Now, neither may bolt for the NFL, but there could be discussions of whether both are back in a Rebel uniform next summer.

Then there’s sophomore Henry Parrish, Jr., who has found more playing time this season.

It comes down if they are all happy with their roles in the three-headed monster that is the Rebels’ run game.

They could also prefer to explore the possibility of being No. 1 guy elsewhere, but, either way, those discussions won’t come until the regular season is over, according to Kiffin.

“We don’t have (talks) until the end of the year, right after the last game of the regular season,” Kiffin said. “We meet with those guys when they get their grades back.”

Despite unknowns for the next year’s roster, there will be plenty of seniors being honored on Saturday.

According to the Ole Miss game notes, there will be 19 seniors honored as part of Senior Day activities.

Those players are: Ben Brown, Mac Brown, Peyton Cox, Dontario Drummond, Lakia Henry, Jaylon Jones, Deane Leonard, Hal Northern, Jachour Pearson, Tyrell Pigrome, Mark Robinson, Braylon Sanders, MoMo Sanogo, Keidron Smith, Jake Springer, CJ Terrell, Tariqious, Orlando Umana and Sam Williams.

No. 10 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC) and Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6) will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. The game will air on the SEC Network.