Blake Corum

Blake Nolam Corum (born November 25, 2000) is an American football running back for the Michigan Wolverines.

Blake Corum
Michigan Wolverines – No. 2
PositionRunning back
ClassSophomore
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-25) November 25, 2000
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolSt. Frances Academy
(Baltimore, Maryland)
Career highlights and awards
  • Third-team All-Big Ten (2021)
  • USA Today All-American (2019)

Early years

Corum grew up in Marshall, Virginia, and attended St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.[1] As a senior, he rushed for 1,438 yards and 22 touchdowns and led his team to a No. 4 national ranking.[2] 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.[3][4] He was rated as the No. 12 running back in the 2020 recruiting class.[5]

University of Michigan

Commitment and early enrollment

Corum committed to the University of Michigan in June 2019.[6]

He enrolled early in January 2020. After watching Corum in sprint tests, Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said: "Blake Corum is as fast as advertised. We timed him in the spring when we did our spring test, and Blake ran in the high-4.4 range (40-yard dash). Just an exciting kid -- a tough, physical kid."[5][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]

2020 season

As a true freshman during the 2020 season, Corum appeared in five games, rushing for 50 net yards and an average of 2.2 yards per carry.[9] In October 2020, Michigan's running backs coach Jay Harbaugh said: "Blake is tremendous. He's exactly what we expected him to be. He's a tremendous worker. Loves to compete, loves football -- is a complete junkie for it. He's a guy who will get carries for us and he'll be a factor not only on offense but on special teams."[10]

2021 season

Prior to the 2021 season, Sports Illustrated predicted that Corum was "poised for a breakout year."[11] Corum praised the team's new running backs coach Mike Hart, noting: "I'm just trying to be like him."[12] Hart noted: "Blake’s a lot faster than me, a lot quicker than me. If I was that fast, I’d probably still be playing in the NFL."[13]

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.[14][15] 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.[16]

On September 18, Corum recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game to start the season, 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.[17]

References
  1. "Blake Corum". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  2. "2019-2020 Maryland Football Player of the Year". Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. 2020.
  3. "St. Frances running back Blake Corum named Gatorade Maryland Football Player of the Year". The Baltimore Sun. December 6, 2019.
  4. "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.
  5. "Michigan OC: Freshman RB Blake Corum 'as fast as advertised'". Mlive.com. May 15, 2020.
  6. Orion Sang (June 27, 2019). "Michigan football recruiting: 4-star RB Blake Corum makes it 18 for 2020". Detroit Free Press – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Angelique S. Chengelis (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. "Mike Hart's coaching paying off for Michigan RB Blake Corum: 'I'm just trying to be like him'". Mlive.com. August 20, 2021.
  13. Angelique S. Chengelis (August 20, 2021). "Michigan running back Blake Corum shows strength, strives for perfection". The Detroit News.
  14. "Blake Corum". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Michael Cohen (September 11, 2021). "Michigan football rolls over Washington, 31-10, behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins". Detroit Free Press.
  16. "Through 2 games, Michigan's Blake Corum leads nation in all-purpose yardage". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  17. "Postgame Notes: #25 Michigan 63, Northern Illinois 10". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
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