Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) walks off the field after a 42-21 loss to Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
The following is a recap of UFL free-agency signings from Feb. 13 – which only saw the Birmingham Stallions make two pickups:
QB Matt Corral
LB DeMarquis Gates
Matt Corral was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft as a highly touted quarterback out of Ole Miss. His four-year collegiate career had seen him account for 8,281 passing yards and 57 passing touchdowns, 1,338 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 37 games. As a second-year starter with the Rebels, he led them to a 10-2 record and a Sugar Bowl appearance in his senior season. Unfortunately, Corral’s collegiate success couldn’t translate into NFL-level success, but this wasn’t entirely his fault. He suffered an injury during the 2022 NFL Preseason and missed his entire rookie season because of it. After the Panthers drafted Bryce Young in 2023, Corral’s hopes of being their face of the face-of-the-franchise were essentially dashed. He was subsequently released by Carolina after training camp in 2023.
DeMarquis Gates was a key piece of the Stallions’ defensive unit that helped them win the 2022 USFL Championship – totaling 68 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. His performance earned him All-USFL honors and saw him receive an opportunity with the Chicago Bears – whom he stuck with until earlier this year. The spring football veteran has also spent time in the AAF, CFL, and XFL, where he earned Mid Season All-XFL honors in 2020. Prior to his professional career, Gates was a standout at Ole Miss – leading them in tackles (76, 79, 114) three years in a row from 2015 to 2017.
Outlook: Corral joins what will likely be one of the most contested quarterback battles during training camp – with J’Mar Smith, Adrian Martinez, and Jalen Morton also in the mix. Due to injury, Corral has received limited opportunities to prove himself on the field in the NFL so it’ll be interesting to see what he can show during his stint with the Stallions.
Meanwhile, DeMarquis Gates is a key signing for the Stallions’ defensive unit as someone who succeeded in the system two seasons ago. He joins Birmingham’s stacked linebacking corps along with the likes of Scooby Wright, Kyahva Tezino, Chris Orr, and Damon Lloyd.
