According to Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, the San Francisco 49ers will invite former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on a pre-draft visit. That’s not the only wideout the Niners have a scheduled meeting with.
The other one is a familiar name. USC’s Brenden Rice, yes, that Rice, concluded a visit with San Francisco, per Justin Melo. Rice is from my neck of the woods in Chandler, Arizona. I recall coaching against him in high school and preparing scouting reports about him.
He took a screen pass on the second play of the game against us for a score. Good times.
Looking at Sports Info Solutions’ big board for the NFL Draft, they had Rice at WR15 and Corley at WR16. Both are No. 96 and No. 100 overall, which signals the 49ers are interested in choosing a wideout with their third-round pick, much like they did with Danny Gray a few years ago.
Rice, 6’2, 208 pounds, isn’t as physical as you’d expect for a player his size. He knows how to play the position, but separation is a concern, and while Rice clocked a 4.5 40-yard dash, a lack of second gear will be the reason he goes to Day 3.
Corley is energetic with the ball in his hands. He’s a playmaker who does not get tackled by the first defender. Corley, the self-proclaimed “Yac King,” averaged nine yards after the catch per reception, which ranks second in this draft.
Corley’s troubles arise before he touches the ball. Western Kentucky effectively used him as a slot receiver. You will not confuse Corley with someone who catches the ball cleanly—or well. And his usage revealed that he wasn’t a skilled route runner.
But when you’re talking about receivers towards the end of the third round, they’re sure to have some flaws on their CV. The upshot from these trips is that a wide receiver in the third round could be on the horizon.