Sports fans have plenty of content with which to occupy themselves at this time of year.
March Madness is, of course, the headliner. The MLB season began this past Thursday. And the NBA and NHL playoff races are both heating up. Still, in a world where football is king, fans are often left pining for pigskin come springtime.
Fortunately, another spring football league has arisen to help scratch that itch. The UFL, which was born out of a merger between the XFL and USFL, will begin its inaugural season with this Saturday’s 1 p.m. ET showdown between the Birmingham Stallions and the Arlington Renegades. Per the UFL’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, that game will be broadcast on Fox. Each of these clubs emerged as champions of their respective leagues a season ago.
Some notable former NFL players, like Taco Charlton and Jace Sternberger, will suit up for the Stallions this year. One player you may or may not recognize is the Stallions’ quarterback, Matt Corral.
Who Is the Birmingham Stallions’ QB, Matt Corral?
Fans of college football will likely be familiar with Corral. After all, just a few years ago he was starring collegiately for Ole Miss. Corral was prolific during his two years as the Rebels’ primary starter. Between 2020-21, Corral racked up 6,686 passing yards, 49 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. He also showcased his mobility with 1,120 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
We're kicking off the season with a heavyweight matchup 👊🏈@USFLStallions vs @XFLRenegades Saturday on FOX 📺 pic.twitter.com/Nlj7ALSuEh
— UFL (@XFL2023) March 26, 2024
Corral ranks third all-time in program history in passing yards and touchdowns. He also helped guide the Rebels to bowl appearances in both seasons. Corral’s production and potential led to him being drafted 94th overall in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
At the time, it seemed like Corral would have a legitimate shot to compete for the starting quarterback position. After all, the only other signal-callers on Carolina’s 2022 roster were Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker. Instead, a preseason Lisfranc injury ended Corral’s rookie season before it ever got underway.
Corral never made it to Carolina’s active roster, getting cut just ahead of the 2023 season. He’d briefly catch on with the New England Patriots but wound up getting cut after mysteriously going AWOL for two days. This brings us to the present day.
The 25-year-old Corral will attempt once more to make good on the potential he showcased throughout college. Given that this will be his first taste of meaningful pro action, it’s safe to say this is a humongous opportunity for the embattled signal-caller.
His chance to establish himself as a pro-level signal-caller will begin this Saturday in a matchup that should give football fans a great indicator of what Corral, and the UFL product at large, has to offer.
MORE: What Is the UFL, and How Will It Compete Against the NFL?
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