Blake Corum
Corum with Michigan in 2024
Michigan Wolverines – No. 2
PositionRunning back
ClassSenior
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-25) November 25, 2000
Marshall, Virginia, U.S.
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight214 lb (97 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolSaint Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
Career highlights and awards

Blake Nolan Corum (born November 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Michigan Wolverines. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football and was named a unanimous All-American in 2022 after rushing for over 1,400 yards with 18 touchdowns. He was a part of the 2023 team that won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Early life and high school

Corum was born on November 25, 2000, in Marshall, Virginia. He later attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland.[2] As a senior, he rushed for 1,438 yards and 22 touchdowns and led his team to a No. 4 national ranking.[3] He was also selected as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland during the 2019–20 academic year and as The Baltimore Sun's Offensive Player of the Year.[4][5] He was rated as the No. 12 running back in the 2020 recruiting class.[6]

College career

Corum in 2021.

Corum enrolled at the University of Michigan in January 2020.[6][7] In his first semester at Michigan, Corum drew praise for both running a 4.4 40-yard dash and earning a 4.0 grade point average.[8] As a true freshman, Corum appeared in five games, rushing for 50 net yards and an average of 2.2 yards per carry.[9][10]

Prior to the 2021 season, Sports Illustrated wrote that Corum was poised for a breakout year.[11] Through the first two games of the 2021 season, Corum rushed for 282 yards on 35 carries. He averaged 141 rushing yards per game and also caught five passes for 33 yards. Against Washington, he tallied a career high 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a 67-yard touchdown run.[12][13] He also had 128 yards on kickoff returns and led the nation in all-purpose yards with an average of 221.5 yards per game.[14]

On September 18, Corum recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game, becoming the first Michigan player to accomplish this feat since Denard Robinson in 2011, and the first player to record 100-plus yards rushing in three consecutive games to start the season since Mike Hart in 2007.[15]

2022 season

On September 17, 2022, Corum tied Michigan's modern-era record with five rushing touchdowns in a game against UConn. He became the first Michigan player to score four first-half touchdowns since Ed Shuttlesworth in 1972.[16][17]

On September 24, Corum rushed for a career-high 243 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in a 34–27 win over Maryland. His 243 rushing yards was the most for a Michigan player since Denard Robinson rushed for 258 yards in 2010.[18] He continued with 133 yards against Iowa on October 1, 124 yards against Indiana on October 8, 166 yards against Penn State on October 15, and 177 yards against Michigan State on October 29. Corum was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performances against Maryland and Michigan State.[19]

Corum suffered a knee injury in the first half of Michigan's 11th game against Illinois and played sparingly the rest of that game and the following week against Ohio State. On December 1, 2022, it was announced that Corum would undergo knee surgery,[20] ending his season before Michigan's appearances in the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff semifinal Fiesta Bowl.

Over the 2022 season, Corum had 1,463 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown.[21]

Corum finished seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy,[22] won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as best player in the Big Ten, and was named a unanimous All-American.

Corum celebrates winning the 2024 Rose Bowl

2023 season

On January 9, 2023, Corum announced that he would be staying at Michigan for another year.[23]

On October 14, 2023, Corum had 13 carries for 52 yards, and became the tenth player in Michigan history to reach 3,000 career rushing yards. With two rushing touchdowns in the game, he passed Mike Hart and Denard Robinson for the third-most career rushing touchdowns in program history (43).[24] On November 4, 2023, Corum recorded three rushing touchdowns in the game, tying for second on the career rushing touchdowns list with Tyrone Wheatley at 47.[25] On November 18, 2023, Corum rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns, moving to eighth on Michigan's all-time rushing list with 3,380 yards. With his two rushing touchdowns in the game, Corum tied Hassan Haskins' single-season rushing touchdown record of 20 set in 2021.[26] On November 25, 2023, Corum rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, setting a new single-season rushing touchdown record of 22. He is the only player in the FBS to score in each game this season.[27] On December 2, 2023, during the 2023 Big Ten Football Championship Game, Corum rushed for 52 yards, and two touchdowns, for his 55th career touchdown. With 52 rushing yards in the game, he passed 1,000-yards on the season, and became the first player with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Denard Robinson. With two rushing touchdowns in the game, he tied Anthony Thomas for Michigan's career record for rushing touchdowns.[28]

On January 1, 2024, during the 2024 Rose Bowl, Corum rushed for 83 yards and one touchdown. In scoring his 56th career rushing touchdown, Corum broke Anthony Thomas's previously held record to become the all-time career rushing touchdown leader at Michigan.[29]

On January 8, Michigan played Washington in the 2024 National Championship Game, with Corum starting at running back.[30] To end the 1st quarter he broke away for a 59-yard gain, the longest play of the game.[30] Michigan was leading 20-13 when he scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cement the Michigan victory 34–13. He finished the game with 21 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns.[31] He was named offensive MVP for his performance.[32]

Statistics

College statistics
Season Games Rushing Receiving Kick returns
GPGSAttYardsAvgTDRecYardsAvgTDRetYardsAvgTD
Michigan Wolverines
2020 6126773.0257314.6059619.20
2021 1201449526.611241415.911230425.30
2022 12122471,4635.91811807.31000.00
2023 15152581,2454.827161177.31000.00
Career452867537375.558564117.331740023.50

[33]

Personal life

Corum is a Christian. He has organized the "Giving Back 2 Give Thanks" initiative to hand out turkeys and other food during Thanksgiving and a toy drive for Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.[34]

References

  1. ↑ Peters, Andrew (January 8, 2024). "Michigan's Blake Corum, Will Johnson Named 2024 CFB National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Blake Corum". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ "2019-2020 Maryland Football Player of the Year". Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  4. ↑ "St. Frances running back Blake Corum named Gatorade Maryland Football Player of the Year". The Baltimore Sun. December 6, 2019.
  5. ↑ "2019 All-Metro football Offensive Player of the Year: Blake Corum, St. Frances". The Baltimore Sun. December 19, 2019. p. Sports 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Michigan OC: Freshman RB Blake Corum 'as fast as advertised'". Mlive.com. May 15, 2020.
  7. ↑ Chengelis, Angelique S. (May 27, 2020). "'Complete player' Blake Corum an explosive addition to Michigan's backfield". The Detroit News.
  8. ↑ "Blake Corum could be Michigan's next workhorse". The Michigan Daily. May 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "2020 Michigan Football Statistics". University of Michigan. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Michigan's Jay Harbaugh: Freshman RB Blake Corum will be a factor in 2020". Mlive.com. October 7, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Blake Corum Is Destined To Be A Fan Favorite". Sports Illustrated. August 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Blake Corum". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Cohen, Michael (September 11, 2021). "Michigan football rolls over Washington, 31-10, behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins". Detroit Free Press.
  14. ↑ "Through 2 games, Michigan's Blake Corum leads nation in all-purpose yardage". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #25 Michigan 63, Northern Illinois 10". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  16. ↑ Ablauf, Dave; Shepard, Chad (September 17, 2022). "Michigan Blanks UConn Behind Five Corum Rushing TDs, Stifling Defense". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 59, UConn 0". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 34, Maryland 27". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors". Big Ten Conference. October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Source: Michigan RB Corum to have knee surgery". December 2022.
  21. ↑ "2022 Michigan Football Statistics". University of Michigan. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ Al-Khateeb, Zac (10 December 2022). "Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2022? Full voting results, stats, list of award winners". The Sporting News. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  23. ↑ "Corum staying at Michigan for 2023 season". Blake Corum. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 52, Indiana 7". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 41, Purdue 13". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 31, Maryland 24". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #3 Michigan 30, #2 Ohio State 24". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 26, #18 Iowa 0". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Breaking: Blake Corum Is The All-Time Career Rushing Touchdown Leader At Michigan". Sports Illustrated. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Football vs Washington on 1/8/2024 - Box Score". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  31. ↑ Championship, Cfp National. "Washington Huskies vs Michigan Wolverines - January 09, 2024". FOX Sports. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  32. ↑ Peters, Andrew. "Michigan's Blake Corum, Will Johnson Named 2024 CFB National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  33. ↑ "Blake Corum - Football". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  34. ↑ Doering, Joshua. "'Firm believer in Christ' Blake Corum powers Michigan to national title game: 'I just want to thank God'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
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