Stallions QBs go from position of strength to question mark

APRIL 11, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

By Steve Irvine

The Birmingham Stallions began the season with perhaps the best quality quarterback depth in the UFL. After two games, the Stallions are already using that depth.

Alex McGough, who started each of the first two games, was placed on injured reserve this week after hurting his right shoulder on the first play of last Friday’s win over the Michigan Panthers. Matt Corral played the rest of the way, leading the Stallions to a 21-12 road victory.

Moving forward, Corral will be the starter in Friday night’s home opener against the Arlington Renegades at Protective Stadium and Case Cookus has been elevated to the backup role. Former Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley is listed as the third quarterback on the Stallions current roster.

“Alex, right now he’s out with a shoulder,” Stallions head coach Skip Holtz said during an interview with 3 Man Front on WJOX-FM. “He will not play this week. We’re not real sure how long that’s going to be, but I think that’s going to be an IR situation and it’s going to be a number of weeks. It’s important that Matt continues to develop. It’s also important that Case Cookus continues to come along because he’s one play away from being out starter.”

Corral was 18-of-29 for 198 yards with a 52-yard scoring pass to Deon Cain and a pair of interceptions against Michigan. He did not play in the opening game loss to the DC Defenders. The Southern California native, who played in college at Ole Miss, played in six games with three starts in 2024. He was 36-of-62 from 494 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Corral came off the bench to lead the Stallions to a 31-18 victory over Michigan in the USFL Division playoff game last season. Corral was 9-of-11 for 120 yards with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

“When (McGough) went down, it was the next man up mentality,” Holtz said on 3 Man Front. “I thought Matt stepped in and really did a nice job. He really did a nice job of preparing during the week, even though he knew he wasn’t going to be the starter. It’s very difficult to prepare as a starter when you’re going to be the backup. I think he’s had a great week of practice.”

Holt said earlier this season that he felt like Cookus would be ready to help at some point. That opportunity, however, came quicker than Holtz expected. Cookus is a spring league veteran, playing two seasons with the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL and the Memphis Showboats last season in the UFL. He had 4,618 yards passing with 34 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 27 spring league games. Cookus led the Stars into the 2022 USFL Championship game against the Stallions but he was sidelined after breaking his leg.

Peasley spent four seasons at Utah State before transferring to Wyoming. He started two games at Utah State and was the starter for all 24 Wyoming games in 2022 and 2023. He threw for 4,395 yards with 37 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and rushed for nine touchdowns during his two years at Wyoming. Peasley signed as a free agent with the New York Jets but did not make the 2024 roster.