Jets excited to see what Malachi Corley can do with ball in his hands

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Training camp practices are not the best place to showcase what Jets rookie receiver Malachi Corley does best. 

The third-round pick from Western Kentucky is known for running over and through tacklers.

That is what earned him the “YAC King” nickname in college.

There is no tackling in practice, so it has been an incomplete picture of what he can do. 

That is why preseason games matter for Corley.

When the Jets face the Panthers on Saturday night in their second preseason game, it will be a chance for Corley to show what he is capable of. 

“That’s what I look forward to doing every single day,” Corley said. “Hopefully this game, I get a lot more burn and, you know, really get to show off my physicality and really just, you know, play a full game, get myself in shape going in to San Francisco and everything, you know, and just show guys what I’m all about as far as physicality goes between.” 

Corley had four catches for 27 yards last week against the Commanders and showed his physicality on one play where he caught a pass that was tipped by tight end Zack Kuntz into his hands.

Corley then dragged a few defenders for some extra yards. 

For Corley, the moment was the realization of his NFL dream. 

“I really took it in, the experience and atmosphere, realizing that’s the pinnacle of your dreams as a kid,” Corley said. “You always want to play in the NFL. And for me to finally go out to MetLife Stadium and just really soak in that atmosphere and just be a part of something so special like that. And then, just being a part of the game, a game that we played since kids, and physicality, game still the same. You know, guys are a lot smarter, a lot more heads up. But the speed of the game, the physicality of the game is all the same. And just, you know, just a job adapting and kind of get your feet wet.” 

The Jets are excited about what Corley can do, and they will look for ways to get the football to him and let him make something happen.

He probably won’t have a big role early, though, as he still learns how to be an NFL receiver. 

“What’s been really good is we all know what he can do with the ball in his hands,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “And we’ve been able to kind of manufacture some situations where he does get it, and he’s as advertised when that ball’s in his hands, so he’s been growing, still a long way to go with his route running … just being where he needs to be as fast as he can get there and just fine tuning his routes, his stems, his leverage, understanding his leverage and learning how to create separation, but love his mindset. I love the way he works. It’s very, very important to him and he’s going to be a really good player.” 

Corley is embracing the challenge of improving his route running. 

“Really not so focused on just winning the route early,” Corley said, “but just running the route and being in the right spot because when you have a Hall of Fame quarterback out there, as long as you’re in the right spot on the field, you know that ball is going to find you every single time. 

“I really fell in love with kind of just perfecting my craft in that way.” 

The Jets also used Corley as a kick and punt returner last week despite him not ever returning kicks in college. 

“[It’s] very comfortable for me,” Corley said. “Even though I didn’t get the opportunity to really put it on film in college a lot. But, they gave me reps after reps after reps and I’m just kind of just building my confidence through reps. And, you know, that’s what I need. Being on kick return [and] punt return is something that I’m looking forward to and excited to do all season.” 

The Jets are looking for ways to get the ball in Corley’s hands.

Once it is, they are confident he will run over defenders.