Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral returns to sideline during Sugar Bowl

After being injured during the Sugar Bowl and having to be carted off the field, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral returned to the sideline on crutches. The star quarterback and NFL draft prospect stated before the game that he never thought about opting out of the bowl game, intending to finish his college career with everything he had.

Matt Corral out of Sugar Bowl

“I’ve just been told that Matt Corral is doubtful to return,” said ESPN’s Katie George after Corral was carted off the field. “And they’re not just missing his on-field production. They’re missing his presence over here on the sidelines. Every time a mistake happens Corral is the guy bringing guys together, huddling them up, pulling someone off to the side one-on-one, hyping them up. He’s the voice that everybody listens to, he’s the guy that everybody turns to and right now, they’re missing that presence.”

During the second quarter, Corral’s examination was finished and it was made apparent that he would not be returning to the Sugar Bowl. Corral emerged from the locker rooms to join his teammates on the sideline while on crutches.

Corral received a huge ovation from the fans in attendance, and his teammates and coaches came over to console the visibly upset young star.

“Well as he got into the box guys on those crutches, players, coaches started coming over to give him a hug. And he’s visibly emotional right now, realizing what’s come to an end for him,” stated Katie George about Corral’s return to the sideline.

Matt Corral won Heisman fan vote for the Heisman Trophy

While he didn’t come close to winning the real Heisman Trophy, college football fans certainly thought highly enough of Corral’s season to vote him as the top selection on their ballots.

Before the 2021 college football season, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin made a prediction that his signal-caller would be selected as a top ten pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

“He was throwing it 70 yards with accuracy, and he’s not a huge guy [6-foot-2, 205 pounds],” Kiffin said before the season. “But his whole upper body is loose, really loose. When he does our flexibility test where he puts his arms back, it’s amazing how far back he can go. He’s also a very good quarterback scrambler. He’s not going to be the fastest guy at the [NFL] combine, but he’s got really good feet and is slippery once he starts running.”