If Matt Corral takes care of business and does what he’s supposed to do this spring, he’s going to be the next starting quarterback in Oxford.

That should excite Ole Miss fans as the former high school All-American already has some game experience and still has four years of eligibility left to play for the Rebels. There have been countless examples of redshirt freshmen bursting onto the college football scene in recent years and if Corral is the next player to follow that path, the fortunes of Ole Miss could drastically change in 2019.

While Matt Luke is already admitting Corral has a leg up on his competition in the Rebels’ QB room, that’s not to say the redshirt freshman doesn’t have some work to accomplish to prove to his head coach that he’s ready to lead Ole Miss to success in the SEC. Here is what Luke had to say during his recent media availability when asked about the importance of Corral’s development this spring in Rich Rodriguez’s offense.

“It’s huge. The quarterback is a huge part of it,” Luke admitted. “He is obviously the furthest ahead because he’s been out there and he’s got the most experience — and he’s very, very talented. But just taking command of the offense where he is very comfortable and can think instinctively and not have to go out there and be thinking and learning.

“So the more he can play instinctive, the better he is going to be.”

Corral made four appearances on the field last season and completed 16 of 22 passes for 239 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also flashed what he can do on the ground, rushing for 83 yards and another two scores.

The biggest offseason storyline in Oxford has been the staff changeover at both coordinator spots under Luke. The hires of former head coach Mike MacIntyre (formerly of Colorado) and Rodriguez (formerly of Arizona) made for great headlines upon their arrival in Oxford but how well they adapt to the program and working under Luke will be the true test of their hires next season.

Now that the three have all shared the practice field together for the first time, how has that implementation been received by Luke?

“Really good, anytime there’s change, there’s opportunity and there’s excitement. And the newness for the players, there is excitement, it’s different and exciting and fun,” Luke said. “That part of it is good and the chemistry is really good. A lot of experience, a lot of energy, really like the energy of the guys that are coaching with and I like the chemistry.”

If nothing else, the Ole Miss defense certainly needed a boost of energy and excitement and if MacIntyre can provide that come the fall, the Rebels stand to benefit from a unit that honestly can’t perform much worse than it did in 2018.