Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s who will be garnering the attention of NFL scouts from Dec. 18 through the 22nd.
‘Tis the season for college football bowl games.
Throughout the next couple of weeks, I’ll be highlighting a prospect from each bowl game, starting from the Famous Toastery Bowl all the way to the Sugar Bowl.
Here’s who will be garnering the attention of NFL scouts from Dec. 18 through the 22nd.
2024 NFL draft profile of Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley including player comparisons
One of the most exciting players in a very deep wide receiver class is also one of the most enticing from the Group of Five collection of schools. Western Kentucky standout Malachi Corley is building himself into a legitimate top-75 overall prospect.
The 5-11, 200-pounder continues to thrive for the Hilltoppers. Last weekend, he tore apart Louisiana Tech for over 200 receiving yards on eight receptions, scoring three more touchdowns in the process. Corley has hauled in at least eight receptions for 80 yards in WKU’s last four games, scoring five touchdowns.
The first of those games came at Ohio State, where he was a major problem for the Buckeyes defense. In a 63-10 loss, Corley still managed to post eight catches, 88 yards and a touchdown. The TD came on a quick throw that allowed Corley to use his power and drive to get into the end zone on a short field.
The ability to run after the catch is Corley’s calling card. He led the entire FBS in YAC in 2022 and tacked on over 125 more against Louisiana Tech. Corley has good balance through contact even though it often looks like he’s somewhat out of control. He’s got a barrage of spins, stiff arms, shoulder charges and high-knee moves to break tackles from all angles.
It works great in C-USA and is tailor-made for WKU’s high-paced shotgun spread offense. Corley typically lines up in the slot but can motion out and across the formation, even sliding into the backfield pistol at times. He plays bigger than his listed size in part because Corley is exceptional at attacking the ball in the air.
The Hilltoppers don’t use him as a deep threat often. His speed is merely good-not-great, and the acceleration off the line won’t win a lot at the NFL level. Route running evaluation is complicated because of WKU’s scheme and how quickly they like to get the ball out. He’s already had 20 targets behind the line of scrimmage in five games, an indication of how Corley is used, with just 16 percent of his targets beyond 20 yards in the last two seasons.
As an early projection, Corley has some similarities to players like Brandon Aiyuk and Amon-Ra St. Brown. That won’t thrive in every offense, but Corley look to be a fun asset for aa team that values versatility, toughness and YAC in receivers.
Mock drafts are back as football returns to our screen. Who did the Browns take in a recent simulation?
Football is officially back. And whether you like it or not, that means mock drafts are back in full swing as analysts and draftniks look to sort through a talented crop of talented players. In a recent mock draft done by Curt Popejoy of Touchdown Wire, the Cleveland Browns were given yet another receiver in the form of Western Kentucky’s explosive YAC machine, Malachi Corley.
The Browns, of course, have one last year without a first round pick after the trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson. In this simulation, they come on the clock with the 17th pick in the second round. If that is indeed where the Browns are picking, then the 2023 season would be a massive disappointment in Northeast Ohio.
Corley, a fourth-year player for the Hilltoppers, is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country with the football in his hands. In 2022, he racked up nearly 1,000 yards after the catch alone. He started his 2023 season with a 55-yard performance on four catches.
The Browns have invested resources in their wide receiver room over the past few years. However, with the contract situation of Amari Cooper, and with Donovan Peoples-Jones entering the last year of his deal, there is room for the Browns to continue to use valuable assets to make moves in the wide receiver room.
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