Easy decisions: Corral, Lebby return out of love, respect

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Like Matt Corral, Jeff Lebby faced a decision earlier this month.

For Corral, it was whether to opt out of his final college game, thereby protecting his health in advance of May’s NFL Draft.

For Lebby, it whether to turn his full focus to his new job at Oklahoma or finish a year’s worth of work at Ole Miss by working for the Rebels in Saturday’s Allstate Sugar Bowl versus Baylor.

Both Corral and Lebby chose team over self, in large part because of their respect for one another. Lebby left Oxford for a few days to do some last-minute recruiting for Oklahoma, but he was back in Oxford in time to help Corral close out his Ole Miss career.

“It has been a lot, obviously, because early signing day and the way that works, being able to go back to Norman and see that part of it through, while at the same time knowing, man, that I wanted to be her,” Lebby said Thursday following Ole Miss’ practice in Metairie, La. “I wanted to be here for Matt. I wanted to be here for all these guys, to be able to go finish this thing the right way.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us to be able to go win 11 games for the first time in the history of the school and that matters. So it mattered to me to be here for them, and that's why I'm here.”

Corral acknowledged Thursday that there were people in his inner circle who told him they’d support his decision to play in the Sugar Bowl but who also advised him to opt out of the game.

“I just couldn’t live with what (his teammates) would’ve thought of me,” Corral said. “No one really understands how close we really are. It just would’ve been the wrong thing to do — not playing and holding out on them.”

Corral said he and Lebby built “trust, respect and loyalty” during their two seasons together at Ole Miss.

“It’s just the way we clicked together,” Corral said. “That’s a relationship I’ll have for the rest of my life. Me and him both know that. Most of these moments that I’ve had at Ole Miss, most of them are going to be with Jeff Lebby and Coach (Lane) Kiffin and this team that we have right now. I wouldn’t trade the world for it.”

Told Lebby said one of the reasons he finished the job, reportedly against the wishes of at least one high-ranking Oklahoma official, Corral said he could relate.

“That’s kind of how I felt with my team,” Corral said. “To put it in perspective.”

Lebby admitted wearing two hats for a couple of weeks has been taxing. He also admitted that the decision to leave Ole Miss for his alma mater was difficult.

“Obviously, I think people that have followed it closely understand how thankful I am and how much me and my family have loved Oxford and loved Ole Miss,” Lebby said. “So it was hard. At the end of the day, being back there, going to school there was an opportunity, felt like had to go do, was excited about doing. And that's ultimately what I decided.”

Lebby acknowledged that he watched Oklahoma’s Alamo Bowl win over Oregon on Wednesday night. He admitted that he got excited watching the Sooners’ offensive talent and looks forward to building relationships with his new players when he returns to Norman next week.

However, he said what’s at the forefront of his mind this week is finishing his work with Ole Miss and watching Corral leave the Caesars Superdome with a Sugar Bowl championship capping his legacy.

“It's been incredible, humbling watching him play the way he plays,” Lebby said. “I think the thing he's got going for him more than anything is he's an inspiring guy. And the way he puts it on the line for his teammates and his university every Saturday is unlike anything out there in the country. And I believe that and dang proud to coach him. Proud of him; proud for him. And I think the most exciting part, man, is he's just getting started.

“So we've got a great relationship, getting stronger every day, and just proud of him. Ready to go do it one more time with him."