New York Giants Draft Prospect: WR Malachi Corley

The Giants will likely be looking to add to their receiver room. Can WKU's Malachi Corley become a part of that?

Malachi Corley, WR

Height: 5’11
Weight: 195 lbs
Class: Senior
School: Western Kentucky
Statistics

A two-star recruit out of Campbellsville High School in Campbellsville, Kentucky, where he was initially recruited as a cornerback. He was the 303rd ranked CB and the 32nd ranked Kentuckian recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle. Corley was an accomplished defensive back in high school. During his freshman year at Western Kentucky, Corley started transitioning to wide receiver where he caught six passes for 65 yards.

Corley is one of the more prominent prospects outside of the Power-5 conferences. He was on the 2022 Biletnikoff Award Watch List and earned 2022 All-Conference USA First Team honors when he was number one in receptions, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards in the CUSA. Corley will be at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Strengths

• Good overall size
• Athlete with good burst/acceleration and breakaway speed
• Reached 21.3 MPH
• Has homerun ability and several plays of him outrunning DBs for TDs
• Elusive player with quick nimble feet
• Can create separation vs. man coverage
• Solid understanding of zone concepts/spatial awareness
• Elite ability to sift through traffic - RB type vision
• Follows blocks and avoids defenders
• Extends away from his frame - natural hands Strong Hands!
• Better route runner than one would imagine due to his usage
• Double move - crafty - out & up TD Sam Houston State Q4 12:22 2nd&7
• Fluid spin at LOS to fade TD Q4 1:35 1st & 10
• Surprisingly good adjustment at every level of the field for a player frequently used near LOS
• Smooth transition ability once catch is secured
• Very good job adjusting on throws behind him
• Won on the outside when tasked
• Liberty TD Q4 2:17 4th & 13
• LA Tech game was elite
• Undressed a tackler vs. LA Tech for a 70 yd TD (reached 20.1 MPH) up the sideline
• Q1 12:16 2nd&5; 48 yd TD vs. LA Tech where he showed elite balance on the SL and strength - LA Tech game, 28 yd TD as well
• Finished with 8 catches for 207 yards and three TDs
• Avoids contact well, jumps/leaps can regain balance effortlessly and keep his momentum
• Always falls forward through contact - punishes defenders
• ELITE YAC/sifting through traffic - wins with combination of strength and nimbleness
• Physical and will run you over - excellent play strength
• Good contact balance and elite toughness
• He does not like to get tackled - difficult to bring down
• Elite competitive toughness - easy to root for

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Weaknesses

• Used predominantly on screens and designed touches
• DID show ability downfield when tasked
• Raw release package due to usage
• Level of competition will be questioned
• DID catch 8 of 13 targets for 88 yards and a TD against Ohio State
• Was predominantly used in the slot 85.8% in 2023
• Route running will be questioned, but he was effective on double moves against lower-level competition - and he did improvise well

Summary

Malachi Corley receives comparisons to Deebo Samuel - due to his designed touches, strength at the point of contact, and explosiveness - but that is a high bar to set. I really like Corley’s game, and believe his natural receiving skills are underrated due to his usage in college. Corley seamlessly adjusts to the football, has excellent concentration, and is very strong-handed. When he was asked to run routes down the field, there were flashes that suggest he could excel in that role in a different situation.

Corley is a far more advanced prospect than Laviska Shenault Jr., who was used in a similar fashion at Colorado (2020), albeit Corley is slightly smaller. Corley’s lack of release package, consistent routes, and his designed touches may lead some detractors to suggest he’s a gadget player. However, he’s more than just a gadget player. He will be a valuable asset to whoever drafts him in 2024.

GRADE: 6.43

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Nick Falato

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