Jan 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Matt Corral (2) reacts after an apparent injury while being sacked by Baylor Bears defensive tackle Cole Maxwell (not pictured) during the first half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral suffered a lower leg injury during the first quarter of Saturday night’s Sugar Bowl against Baylor, and he was carted off to the locker room.

The star quarterback returned to the sideline on crutches in the second quarter with tears in his eyes.

Corral isn’t just one of the best quarterbacks in the country; he’s arguably the top quarterback prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. His injury is an example of why many NFL draft prospects choose to opt out of these bowl games- a serious injury could cause a prospect’s draft stock to fall (maybe significantly).

This injury also happens after ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard made ridiculous comments on the topic of college football players choosing to opt out, suggesting that these players don’t “love football.”

Perhaps those comments led to ESPN analyst Greg McElroy saying that “you understand why guys decide to opt out” on the Ole Miss-Baylor broadcast after Corral’s injury.

Corral recently explained why he chose to play in the Sugar Bowl instead of opting out.

Hopefully it’s not a serious injury and Corral can maintain his first-round draft stock.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.