Malachi Corley has heard it plenty over the past few weeks – when it comes to Western Kentucky’s bowl game, the star wide receiver simply has nothing left to prove.

Why take the risk of injury or a sub-par performance when Corley seems assured of hearing his named called in the next NFL draft? Why play in this game at all?

Corley has heard all that chatter, all the well-meaning advice and appreciates the thought – even if he respectfully disagrees.

Come Monday, Corley plans to suit up one last time for WKU (7-5) when the Hilltoppers take on Old Dominion (6-6) in the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. Game time is 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.

“Specifically, my brother and my trainer don’t want me to play in this game,” Corley said. “I feel like the scouts, the people that are in charge of the bowls, they also feel like I don’t play in this game as well. They feel like I have nothing to prove. But for myself, I feel like I have everything to prove. That’s the chip I carry myself every single day. I feel like I have everything to prove to everybody.

“Ultimately I love ball at the end of the day and any chance to play is an opportunity to put what I’m made of on film every single week.”

Corley, who passed Taywan Taylor (253 career catches) to become WKU’s all-team leader in career receptions during the Tops’ 51-28 road win at FIU in the regular-season finale, hopes to add a few more catches to his total of 255 on Monday at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

“This week will maybe give me a chance to open up my route tree,” Corley said. “Even if it’s just one play during the game that’s something they haven’t got to see, if I don’t play in this game then I don’t get that opportunity.”

That’s part of the reason to play for Corley, who also ranks second in WKU history in touchdown receptions with 29 and third in receiving yards with 3,007. The spotlight is important, no question, but Corley also feels a strong obligation to play one last time with his teammates.

Heading into a game where upwards of 20 WKU players have entered the NCAA transfer portal, questions remain about who will play and who will opt out – WKU coach Tyson Helton said many of those in the portal will play in the bowl game, just like last year and the year before that.

Corley made it known well beforehand that he planned to stick with the Hilltoppers through bowl season.

“With Malachi, he’s just same ole’ Malachi every day – loves to compete,” Helton said. “And he made it pretty much known that he wanted to play as many games as he could play in and end his college career, so we really didn’t get into a lot of those discussions. He’s obviously our best football player and we need him, so like always we’ll try to get him the ball as much as we can.”

This season, Corley led the Tops with 75 catches for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing a game and part of another due to injury. Despite WKU’s offense falling off somewhat from the 2022 season, Corley put up similar numbers compared to that breakout sophomore season (101 catches for 1,293 yards and 11 TDs) when he led the nation in yards after the catch and truly put himself on the radar of NFL scouts.

Beyond the bowl game, Corley plans to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl (Feb. 3-8) in Mobile, Ala. Corley was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American Team, the only Group of Five player selected to the first-team offense.

Then there’s WKU’s Pro Day in late February or early March, and Corley is confident he’ll get an invitation to the NFL combine as well. He’s looking forward to those chances to prove himself, but not before taking the opportunity and fulfilling his responsibility to his teammates in Charlotte.

“Absolutely, another chance for our offense to leave everybody with a good taste in their mouth especially going into next season,” Corley said. “You get to see a flash of some of the younger guys who are going to get their chance next year like K.D. Hutchinson, Moussa Barry, Easton Messer, all those guys who have been having their blinks of shine. But as you’ve heard of the turnover in the portal and things like that, other guys will have their opportunities to play in this game and there’s a lot of excitement around that. The young guys are really pushing it hard this week and my job as the older guy is to let them know that you have a chance to make the biggest play of the game every play that you’re in there.

“ … It’s not just about you, it’s about getting everybody else better – that’s what makes a good leader. Being there with those guys is the most important thing to me, keeping those memories and having a memorable trip with them.”

WKU running back Davion Ervin-Poindexter said having Corley in the huddle will be a big lift for the Hilltoppers against ODU.

“That’s a big boost for our whole team, just to know that he has the opportunity to skip this game just because of the work he’s already put in,” Ervin-Poindexter said. “Him sticking around and playing with us is definitely going to be a big boost to our team.”

For Corley, playing in this game was never in doubt.

“I’m all in for the Tops, no question,” Corley said. “I’m here to stay, I’m here to play – not only for this team, but this community. I owe it to them as well.”{&end}