OLE MISS

Tim Tebow makes case Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral is 'best player in the country'

Erik Hall
Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Tim Tebow appeared as a guest with Paul Finebaum on "The Paul Finebaum Show" on Friday from The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi. 

The first thing Finebaum asked Tebow about was Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. 

Tebow, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy as quarterback for the Florida Gators, heaped praise on Corral. 

Through six games, Corral is 122-for-184 passing for 1,728 yards and 14 touchdowns. Corral also has rushed 88 times for 450 yards and eight touchdowns.

Tim Tebow praises Ole Miss football's Matt Corral

SEC Nation host Tim Tebow on the set during the filming of the SEC Nation college football show, at the Plaza of the Americas on the University of Florida campus, in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 18, 2021.

"I think right now he's the best player in the country," Tebow said of Corral. "I believe that not only because he's been successful in the pocket, but I think he's been successful as a leader trying to change the culture here. But then also when he's needed to, he's put the team on his back and been able to do it." 

In the most recent Ole Miss game, Corral went 21-for-38 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns with 30 rushing attempts for 195 yards vs. Tennessee football in Knoxville. Ole Miss won the game 31-26. 

"Last week, he did it with his legs," Tebow said. "Thirty carries because of the style (of defense) Tennessee was playing, and they kept giving it to him, and he kept taking it. And I really believe if he didn't use his legs, they don't win last week against Tennessee. And I think depending on his health, he might have to do it again tomorrow." 

Ole Miss is scheduled to face LSU at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. 

Finebaum then asked Tebow about how a physical game affects a quarterback. 

Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

"You might be able to bounce back for one week," Tebow said. "And then maybe a second week. But three weeks after you've played physical games, four weeks in a row, five weeks in a row, that's where it's just hard to be the same player. It really is. And you know physically, it takes a toll. But then also, it takes a toll emotionally and takes a toll mentally. And I think Matt is so mentally tough, I think he's going to be able to handle it, but if he carries it again 25 times, you know all of a sudden by the time they're playing Auburn or (Texas) A&M or some other big games, it could be too late by that point."

Ole Miss plays at Auburn on Oct. 30 and against Texas A&M on Nov. 13. 

Tim Tebow would vote Matt Corral for Heisman

Tim Tebow reiterated his respect for Matt Corral's talent during "SEC Nation" on Saturday, Oct. 23. Tebow said that he'd vote Matt Corral for the 2021 Heisman Trophy when asking Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin a question. 

Ole Miss, ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, comes into Saturday's game vs. LSU at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.

Here's more LSU, Ole Miss football news: 

LSU enters the contest 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. On Oct. 16, LSU defeated Florida 49-42. Ed Orgeron is the LSU Tigers football head coach. 

Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.