This is our future, Gator fans.
Florida’s current quarterback situation is still to be determined. Matt Corral’s status as a playmaking quarterback is not.
The Class of 2018 Gator QB commit began his senior season by guiding his Long Beach Poly Jackrabbit squad to a convincing 28-10 victory over against Los Alamitos. Corral finished the night 20-30 with 376 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The performance came just a few days after Corral was demoted from a five star prospect to a four star in the recruiting rankings of ESPN, 247, and Rivals, but after the way he played last night, to say those negatively adjusted rankings are foolish is a generous description.
On his team’s second possession, Corral led LBP down the field for an easy touchdown, lobbing a rainbow over the corner and into his receiver’s outstretched hands. The defender appeared to have slipped on the play, leaving the corner wide open. Yet that was a mere opening act for the wizardry that followed.
Early in the second quarter, Corral was flushed from the pocket and shot a lightning bolt down the middle while still on the run and not set. The pass was right on target to a receiver that, as a Los Alamitos coach said after the game, wasn’t open. Not to mention that the ball was thrown so hard that the camera couldn’t keep up with it.
#Gators QB commit @corral_matt escapes heavy pressure and fires a laser on the run for a 27 yard gain. What a throw. 👀 pic.twitter.com/r4UNp9fief
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 26, 2017
Later in the second quarter, the Jackrabbits were pinned against their own goal line. So what did Corral do? He pulled his best Austin Appleby LSU impression, albeit with a little more maneuvering: he dropped back into his own end zone, heaved a bomb down the field right on the money to his receiver, and thanks to some help from his shifty receiver, earned himself a 97 yard TD pass.
Which he then celebrated with a Gator chomp. Because of course he did.
#Gators QB commit @corral_matt throws a 97 yard touchdown pass and then celebrates with the Gator chomp. #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/ZLBLlWdNoo
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 26, 2017
Thanks in part to that coast to coast touchdown pass, Corral finished the first half 10-13 with 218 yards. And he picked up right where he left off in the second half.
On the very first play of quarter number three, Corral spun away from what appeared to be a free sack, reset his feet, squared up and fired a bullet down the field for another big gain.
Whoa. @corral_matt somehow avoids what looked like a sack and hits his WR for a 26 yard gain. #Gators pic.twitter.com/2W7xZFNxLY
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 26, 2017
His toughest throw of the night was the one that came next, and I use the word “toughest” for a reason. With a man right in his face and ready to hammer him, Corral stood tall in the pocket and delivered a laser right down the middle of the field. This is a situation in which many quarterbacks would prefer to tuck the ball and run for his life, and as we saw from Corral on several occasions on the night, he’s more than capable of doing so for big results. But as we saw on this occasion, he’d rather hit his open receiver when possible.
Another laser from @corral_matt. This kid's arm is something else. pic.twitter.com/TSRbmhJG9f
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 26, 2017
But his last throw of the night was unquestionably his best. You just… you just have to watch it.
WOW. @corral_matt gets out of trouble and hits a deep bomb on the run. What a throw the future #Gators QB just made. pic.twitter.com/u9Py5iT6pX
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 26, 2017
No, your eyes did not deceive you. Matt Corral spun away from a sack, rolled to his left, and threw a perfect ball 50 yards down the field right on target. Say what you want about smaller windows in the SEC, faster defenders chasing him, or whatever, but you cannot teach this. That is a big league throw from a future big league quarterback, and luckily, his journey to the big league will take him through Gainesville.
LOL. Taking away his fifth star. You recruiting “gurus” are funny. But hey, thanks for giving him motivation.
