2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: 2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Malachi Corley, WR Western Kentucky
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky’s top wide receiver in 2023. Corley attended Campbellsville High School, playing both ways as a wide receiver and cornerback. Although he was originally recruited by Western Kentucky to play corner, he was transitioned to wide receiver full-time almost immediately.
Corley thrived in WKU’s offense, ultimately named to the first-team All-Conference USA in both his sophomore and junior seasons. His high level of production for 3 years after a redshirt season makes him an interesting NFL prospect, and one that teams are already monitoring closely.
The comps to Deebo Samuel have persisted, given his style of play is reminiscent of the All-Pro. Corley isn’t afraid of contact and often punishes defenders when catching screens or on end-around. At the Senior Bowl, the comps continued and his stock is already on the rise.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2020 | Western Kentucky | CUSA | FR | WR | 9 | 6 | 65 | 10.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 65 | 10.8 | 0 | |
| *2021 | Western Kentucky | CUSA | FR | WR | 14 | 73 | 691 | 9.5 | 7 | 1 | -6 | -6.0 | 0 | 74 | 685 | 9.3 | 7 |
| *2022 | Western Kentucky | CUSA | SO | 14 | 101 | 1295 | 12.8 | 11 | 11 | 87 | 7.9 | 0 | 112 | 1382 | 12.3 | 11 | |
| *2023 | Western Kentucky | CUSA | JR | WR | 12 | 79 | 984 | 12.5 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 0 | 83 | 995 | 12.0 | 11 |
| Career | Western Kentucky | 259 | 3035 | 11.7 | 29 | 16 | 92 | 5.8 | 0 | 275 | 3127 | 11.4 | 29 | ||||
Strength
- Strong runner with good vision who welcomes contact
- Incredible contact balance
- Slippery and hard to tackle
- Excellent burst with quick feet
- Deadly in-motion packages, especially on crossers
- Breaks in his routes are crisp but the tree needs more development
- Good adjustments and body control in the air
Weaknesses
- Could be more nuanced at sitting in zones
- Hands need to be stronger to haul in contested catches
- Ad-libs need work, especially since he’s likely a primary target when a play breaks down
- Will need to put on weight if his play style doesn’t change
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Early/Mid 3rd Round
Ideal Landing Spot: New York Jets
The New York Jets finally have an opportunity to create a more complete offense to roll out alongside their dynamic defense. And who better to add to the ranks than a dynamic and versatile wide receiver that many have been loosely comparing to Deebo Samuel? Malachi Corley has the ideal size and fight in him to become a Deebo-esque player for the Jets, playing over the short and intermediate middle as a complement to stud wideout Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. At the cost of an early third-round pick, he’s in the ideal area for the Jets to pounce.
Though it’s hard to know who Aaron Rodgers will prefer in the passing game, Corley has proven to be a reliable asset to Western Kentucky. Against top-notch opponent Ohio State, Corley put up an 8/88/1 line that included some nice plays in the screen game and got him into space with pre-snap motion. The Jets can plug him straight into a similar role.
With the ability and willingness to run over corners and the shiftiness to lose defenders in the open field, Corley is a good get for any NFL team that hopes to improve their screen game and add another layer to their offensive game plan each week.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 3.65 to the New York Jets
Corley
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Malachi Corley below.
