by It’s that time of the year again! NFL Draft season.
Over the next few months, I’ll be breaking down and highlighting a handful of notable college football stars entering the draft — most of which may be flying under the radar.
Today’s scouting report will turn to the C-USA and focus on Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley.
Following three highly productive seasons in Bowling Green, KY, Corley solidified himself as one of the best wide receivers in school history and made an even bigger name for himself at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl practice this past week.
PRODUCTION
A former two-star cornerback prospect coming out of high school, Malachi Corley transitioned to wide receiver upon his arrival at WKU and never looked back.
After appearing in just nine games in the first season on “The Hill,” Corley emerged as a true receiving threat his redshirt-freshman year. Behind other standout pass catchers Jerreth Sterns and Mitchell Tinsley on the depth chart, the Florida native still racked up 73 receptions for 691 yards and seven scores.
Corley took his game to another level in 2022 by earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors. He had one of the most dynamic receiving seasons in program history, posting 101 catches (4th in FBS) for 1,295 yards (4th in FBS) and 11 touchdowns (7th in FBS) while sustaining a much higher target share. Corley also had six 100-yard games on the campaign.
This past season, Corley’s statistical production went down, but not by much. While earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors for the second straight season, the speedy wide out caught 79 passes for 984 yards and a conference-high 11 touchdowns. He currently holds the all-time receptions record (259) at Western Kentucky and led all draft eligible receivers with 8.6 yards after catch in 2023.
Strengths
A YAC machine, very few wide receivers were as prone to breaking tackles and lethal in open space as Corley at the college level. Corley has a smaller, compact frame (5’11”, 210), but don’t let that fool you as he has lightning-quick feet and is physical with the ball in his hands. As long as his production can translate to significantly tougher competition at the next level, Corley has the natural talent and play style to be an impactful offensive weapon in the NFL. He will be best suited in an offensive system that already has a primary WR1.
My Comp: DJ Moore
A lot of scouts compare him to Deebo Samuel, which is valid, but I see some DJ Moore in the Western Kentucky product too. Similar to Moore’s days in Carolina, Corley will primarily be a slot guy at the next level due to his elite YAC ability. Both receivers possess Swiss Army knife skill sets and have a similar unique combination of quickness and physicality.
Projected Round: 3rd
While I think a lot of NFL front offices may undervalue Corley, mid-to-late third round is the sweet spot. However, based on his combine results, he could elevate his draft stock even more.