It’s been a wild Week 1 in college football. Several quarterbacks that are currently viewed as the top prospects in the nation didn’t perform admirably in their contests. The likes of Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler disappointed and failed to meet the expectations of the masses. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but several draft-eligible quarterbacks have gotten off to less-than-ideal starts.

We’ll get to see another intriguing signal-caller on Monday night when Matt Corral and Ole Miss take on Louisville. Week 1 has proven that we still have a lot to figure out regarding the upcoming quarterback class. With a few of his counterparts trending in the wrong direction, Corral has a great opportunity to gain some ground and earn some respect with a good showing.

We’re excited to see Corral in action against the Cardinals. Here are three things we’d love to see from him on Monday night.

TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL

If Corral wants NFL teams to take him seriously as a prospect, one of the many things he needs to do better in 2021 than he did in 2020 is to cut down on the turnovers. Despite playing in just 10 games last season, Corral finished the year with 14 interceptions. On average, Corral threw an interception every 23 passing attempts last campaign. If Corral has NFL aspirations, and I assure you he does, he needs to prove that he can take better care of the football. Corral needs to take a step in the right direction in that department, and he can start by playing a clean game against Louisville.

LET YOUR ATHLETICISM SHINE

Corral is a good athlete that can get outside of the pocket. His ability to pick up chunks of yardage with his legs was on display last season. Corral finished the year with 506 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 50.6 yards per game on the ground. Corral’s knack for escaping pressure and rushing for positive yardage is something that makes him tough to defend against. Corral has a lot to prove with his arm this year, but he can’t neglect one of the traits that could make him an attractive NFL player, and that’s his ability to use his legs effectively.

MAKE TIGHT-WINDOW THROWS

One of the biggest knocks on Corral as a prospect is that he has yet to show the arm strength necessary to consistently fit the ball into tight windows. Arm strength doesn’t (or shouldn’t) mean how far a guy can throw the football, but rather if he can put enough zip on it to get it to his receiver before the window closes. It’s one of the most important traits when evaluating quarterbacks trying to make the jump from college to the pros. “Open” at the NFL level means something very different than it does at the college level, and Corral has to prove that he can make those NFL-level throws on an every-down basis. He can start by doing just that against a tough Cardinals secondary on Monday night.

You can read our Matt Corral scouting report here.