When I came up here in January, I had to learn the plays and learn the concepts, and I was doing kind of fine, but I wasn't playing full-speed at first, just thinking what I've got to do," Corley said on Wednesday after his fifth practice. "Now, I'm just getting the playbook down and playing faster, so it's kind of helping me out on the field."
Of Michigan State's true freshmen who could see a role in 2016, Corley still leads the way as the most likely. The player who came in as the team's most heralded at the skill positions drew praise throughout the spring, and hasn't seen that diminish in the early days of fall camp.
"He is playing faster, earlier, than most freshman would be coming into a college offense," Michigan State receiver coach Terrance Samuel said.
Samuel said Corley's instincts on the field are closer to those of a veteran, not a freshman. He attributes that to his past playing defense and to strong high school coaching. He also praised Corley's fingers and body control.
Asked about his team's freshmen on Wednesday, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said that "all four of those freshmen wide receivers are talented guys."
That group includes Cam Chambers, another receiver who enrolled early with Corley, plus Trishton Jackson and Justin Layne.
Dantonio singled out Jackson on Wednesday, saying he has benefitted from playing quarterback in high school, and compared him to former Spartans wide receiver Keshawn Martin.
In addition to receiver, Corley said he's been working as a punt returner, and has even taken some fall camp reps at cornerback. While playing two ways could be in his future, Corley said the coaches' primary directive for him is to get ready to play receiver.
"They just want me to learn the offensive side first, they didn't want to throw too much at me," Corley said.
Corley said he's aware of the attention he's been receiving, as potentially one of the Big Ten's top freshmen in 2016. He's got a veteran's attitude toward that, too.
"I don't really pay attention to it," Corley said. "If you just go out there and do your best every time, then whatever happens, happens
Freshman WR Donnie Corley still impressing as Michigan State moves through fall camp