Former Rebels QB Called to NFL After Vikings’ Starter Goes Down

OXFORD, Miss. — Former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral received a call from the Minnesota Vikings Friday after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered an injury that required season ending surgery this week.

The Vikings traded former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to Atlanta during the offseason which gave them an opportunity to snag Michigan’s national championship winning passer in this year’s NFL Draft. Perhaps a stiff competition behind journeyman Sam Darnold will be a storyline worth paying attention to during the preseason.

Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall will likely compete for a backup job with Corral being brought in to help push others ahead of him. It is unknown of the Vikings intention with the Rebels’ former star. There is a possibility Corral contends for a spot on the final 53-man roster or he may just be another live arm to look at throughout camp.

First NFL Stint

He spent his first two years with the Panthers after being drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft. Following a season-ending injury himself as a rookie he was never quite able to regain his spot in Carolina’s quarterback room and was released in April 2023.

USFL Standout

Corral was recently contracted with the Birmingham Stallions, 2024 champions of the USFL. He played in 10 games during the spring and won all three of his starts. The dual threat passer completed 36 of 62 passes for 494 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ole Miss Career

After sharing time at quarterback with teammate Adrian Martinez, Corral came off the bench cold and was able to guide Birmingham to a USFL conference championship. Tied at 18 apiece with the Michigan Panthers, Coral threw two fourth quarter touchdowns to send the Stallions to a berth in the UFL Championship Game.

Under Ole Miss head coach, Lane Kiffin, Corral finished No. 7 in Heisman voting during the 2021 season after passing for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He was an effective rusher for the Rebels 10-win campaign finishing with 614 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.