The Pittsburgh Steelers have been spending more time scouting quarterbacks this off-season than they have in the past 18-years combined. And obviously Ben Roethlisberger's retirement put this plan into motion. Now it's time to see what Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert can do as far as identifying talent at the position, and if they can get their next 'franchise quarterback.'
Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) makes a throw against the Baylor Bears in the second quarter in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
One of the quarterbacks that the Steelers have been scouting is Mississippi gunslinger, Matt Corral. Corral broke out in 2020 becoming a finalist for the Manning Award which goes to the best quarterback in college football. It's the only quarterback award that takes into consideration all bowl games. In 2021, Corral finished 7th in the Heisman voting after leading Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl before losing to #6 Baylor. Corral was injured early in the game and missed the remainder of the game.
The Steelers traveled to Corral's Pro Day on March 23, and will have the quarterback flown into Pittsburgh so the two sides can meet privately this week according to reports.
On Sunday, Corral joined The Rich Eisen Show to discuss a variety of topics, but an interesting note was that Corral says rock star Bret Michaels is pushing for the Steelers to select him. Michaels of course is a native of western Pennsylvania, and a huge Steelers fan.
“I’ve talked to Bret throughout this process. He really wants me to land in Pittsburgh," Corral said. "I have the utmost respect for the Michaels family. What they’ve done for me is something that I can never repay them for. They were there for me in tough times and helping me through and showing me guidance and being able to be there for me when I felt like nobody was. And that's something I can never repay them for.”
Corral would go on to say that Michaels is really pushing Mr. Rooney.
“The Michaels family, Bret is really pushing Mr. Rooney for them to pick me…he used to live next to one of the owners of the Steelers. That was his neighbor. They used to talk a lot. I know he brought my name up.”
Michaels met Corral while he was in high school according to Corral. They've become family according to both sides.
"Ever since I was a freshman in high school. Towards the end of my freshman year of high school, I met him then and his family. They're really great people all around."
Now about a month ago, Michaels was actually on Eisen's show and brought up Corral to Pittsburgh without being asked. He acknowledged the Steelers situation with Mitchell Trubisky just being signed, but he insists they wouldn't be sorry if they selected his friend.
"Rich, what about my buddy, family friend of our family, Matt Corral. Ole Miss. I'm telling you," Michaels told Eisen. "I know Trubisky is in, I get it...I know he's in, but I'm telling you Matt Corral, I've seen him grow up. Play all over the place in Southern Cal. For whatever my 2 cents are worth, he’s got that heart of a lion. His guys would get hurt on the field, he’d run out and carry them off the field. Team player, quarterback. He has an unbroken fighting spirit.”
Corral could be a target for the Steelers in the first round if they feel strongly enough about him. He's considered to go as early as the top 15 by some draft experts, and as low as the third round. Grades are all over the place on him. The chances of him being on the board when the Steelers select in the first round is very likely though.
