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Blake Corum

Blake Nolan Corum (born November 25, 2000) is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time All-American for the Michigan Wolverines. Corum is the all-time leader for the University of Michigan in rushing touchdowns with 58, including the single season record of 27 rushing touchdowns in 2023, culminating in a national championship. He was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Blake Corum
refer to caption
Corum in 2024
No. 22 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Running back / Kickoff returner
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-25) November 25, 2000 (age 23)
Marshall, Virginia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Saint Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)
College:Michigan (2020–2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 3 / pick: 83
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Rushing yards:73
Rushing average:3.7
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:17
Return yards:115
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Corum was born on November 25, 2000, in Marshall, Virginia,[1] attending high school at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland.[2]

He was selected as the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland and The Baltimore Sun's Offensive Player of the Year,[3][4] rushing for 1,438 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, as he led his team to a #4 national ranking.[5] He was a four star recruit and rated as the #12 high school running back.[6]

College career

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Corum with Michigan in 2021

2020 season

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Corum enrolled at the University of Michigan in January 2020.[6][7] In his first semester at Michigan, he drew praise for both running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and earning a 4.0 grade point average.[8] On October 24, in the season opener versus Minnesota and his college debut, he earned his first career start. On October 31, Corum scored his first two collegiate touchdowns against rival Michigan State. As a true freshman he appeared in all six games, rushing for 77 yards (3.0 yards per carry), while also adding five receptions for 73 yards.[9][10]

2021 season

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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.[1][12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

2022 season

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On September 17, 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.[15][16]

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.[17]

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.[18]

On November 19, Corum suffered a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in the first half of Michigan's game against Illinois and played sparingly the rest of that game. Corum tried to play through the injury in the rivalry game against Ohio State the next week. He recorded two carries for six yards on Michigan's first drive of the game but didn't play again until he took the field for a celebratory Michigan victory kneel-down on the final play of the game.[19][20]

At the time of his injury, Corum was a top contender for the Heisman Trophy and had the third-best odds to win it.[21] On December 1, 2022, it was announced that Corum would undergo knee surgery,[22] 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.[23] Corum finished seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy,[24] was named a unanimous All-American and won the Big Ten Most Valuable Player, the second straight Michigan player to win MVP.[25][26]

2023 season

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On January 9, 2023, Corum announced that he would be returning to Michigan for his senior year.[27] In an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Corum said, “I have unfinished business. I didn't like the way I went out in the Big House. I don't like people remembering me being hurt. And so I will be coming back for it all next year."[28] During halftime of a Michigan basketball game in February, Corum spoke the crowd and guaranteed that Michigan would win the national championship in the upcoming football season.[29]

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).[30]

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.[31]

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.[32]

On November 25, 2023, in the victory versus Ohio State, Corum rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, setting a new single-season rushing touchdown record of 22. He was the only player in the FBS to score in each game in the 2023 season.[33]

On December 2, 2023, in the Big Ten Championship, 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.[34]

 
Corum in the 2024 Rose Bowl versus Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry.

On January 1, 2024, during the 2024 Rose Bowl against Alabama, Corum rushed for 83 yards and scored two total touchdowns. He caught a receiving touchdown in the first quarter. On the second play of overtime, Corum made a jump cut and broke multiple tackles to score the game-winning touchdown to send Michigan to the national championship. 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.[35]

On January 8, Michigan played Washington in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship with Corum starting at running back.[36] On the last play of the first quarter, he broke away for a 59-yard gain, the longest play of the game.[36] He finished the game with 21 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns.[37] He was named National Championship Offensive MVP, finishing his senior season with 27 rushing touchdowns.[38]

Corum (134 yards) and Donovan Edwards (104 yards) also became the first pair of teammates in College Football Playoff National Championship history to each rush for over 100 yards.

Corum set Michigan's single-season record for rushing touchdowns (27), total touchdowns (28) and points scored (168), which is also a Big Ten record. He finished his college career as Michigan's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns (58), total touchdowns (61) and points scored (366). Corum was the only FBS player in the country to score a touchdown in every one of his team's games during the 2023 season.[39][40]

College statistics

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Michigan Wolverines
Season Games Rushing Receiving Kick returns
GP GS Att Yards Avg TD Rec Yards Avg TD Ret Yards Avg TD
2020 6 1 26 77 3.0 2 5 73 14.6 0 5 96 19.2 0
2021 12 0 144 952 6.6 11 24 141 5.9 1 12 304 25.3 0
2022 12 12 247 1,463 5.9 18 11 80 7.3 1 0 0 0.0 0
2023 15 15 258 1,245 4.8 27 16 117 7.3 1 0 0 0.0 0
Career[41] 45 28 675 3,737 5.5 58 56 411 7.3 3 17 400 23.5 0

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Bench press
5 ft 7+3⁄4 in
(1.72 m) 		205 lb
(93 kg) 		28+7⁄8 in
(0.73 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.53 s 1.58 s 2.65 s 4.07 s 6.82 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 27 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[42][43][44]

Corum was selected 83rd overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.[45]

Personal life

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On April 7, 2024, weeks before the 2024 NFL draft, Corum threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Detroit Tigers baseball game at Comerica Park.[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Blake Corum". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Blake Corum". University of Michigan. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "St. Frances running back Blake Corum named Gatorade Maryland Football Player of the Year". The Baltimore Sun. December 6, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  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. ^ "2019-2020 Maryland Football Player of the Year". Gatorade.com. Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Zuke, Ryan (May 15, 2020). "Michigan OC: Freshman RB Blake Corum 'as fast as advertised'". Mlive.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Chengelis, Angelique S. (May 27, 2020). "'Complete player' Blake Corum an explosive addition to Michigan's backfield". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Gerson, Aria (May 29, 2020). "Blake Corum could be Michigan's next workhorse". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "2020 Michigan Football Statistics". University of Michigan. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Zuke, Ryan (October 7, 2020). "Michigan's Jay Harbaugh: Freshman RB Blake Corum will be a factor in 2020". Mlive.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Brown, Brandon (August 20, 2021). "Blake Corum Is Destined To Be A Fan Favorite". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Cohen, Michael (September 11, 2021). "Michigan football rolls over Washington, 31-10, behind Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Fangman, Tyler (September 12, 2021). "Through 2 games, Michigan's Blake Corum leads nation in all-purpose yardage". Saturday Tradition. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "Postgame Notes: #25 Michigan 63, Northern Illinois 10". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 59, UConn 0". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 34, Maryland 27". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors". Big Ten Conference. October 31, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  19. ^ O'Donnell, Chris (May 1, 2012), "Torn discoid lateral meniscus", Radiopaedia.org, doi:10.53347/rid-17645, retrieved February 17, 2024
  20. ^ Nasr, Paul (November 21, 2023). "Blake Corum readies to be featured back in The Game for first time". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "Heisman Trophy odds heading into Week 12 of college football". DraftKings Network. November 13, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  22. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (December 1, 2022). "Source: Michigan RB Corum to have knee surgery". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  23. ^ "2022 Michigan Football Statistics". University of Michigan. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Al-Khateeb, Zac (December 10, 2022). "Who won the Heisman Trophy in 2022? Full voting results, stats, list of award winners". The Sporting News. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "Blake Corum is the 2022 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner - the 2nd straight Michigan player and the 19th overall to win the 98 year old award". Chicago Tribune.
  26. ^ Woods, Trevor (December 14, 2022). "Michigan RB Blake Corum named unanimous All-American". Maize n Brew. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  27. ^ Courm, Blake (January 9, 2023). "Corum staying at Michigan for 2023 season". Twitter.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  28. ^ Zuniga, Alejandro (January 9, 2023). "'I'm coming back for it all': Blake Corum explains decision to return to Michigan in 2023". 247Sports. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  29. ^ Peery, Wade (February 9, 2023). "WATCH: Blake Corum guarantees College Football Playoff title next year during halftime vs. Nebraska basketball". On3. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  30. ^ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 52, Indiana 7". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  31. ^ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 41, Purdue 13". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  32. ^ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 31, Maryland 24". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "Postgame Notes: #3 Michigan 30, #2 Ohio State 24". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  34. ^ "Postgame Notes: #2 Michigan 26, #18 Iowa 0". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 2, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  35. ^ Knoop, Trent (January 1, 2024). "BREAKING: Blake Corum Is The All-Time Career Rushing Touchdown Leader At Michigan". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Football vs Washington on 1/8/2024 - Box Score". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "Washington Huskies vs Michigan Wolverines - January 09, 2024". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  38. ^ Peters, Andrew (January 8, 2024). "Michigan's Blake Corum, Will Johnson Named 2024 CFB National Championship MVPs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  39. ^ "Blake Corum". University of Michigan.
  40. ^ Shaw, Zach (April 23, 2024). "NFL Draft preview: Michigan running back Blake Corum". 247sports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  41. ^ "Blake Corum - Football". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  42. ^ "Blake Corum Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  43. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Blake Corum College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  44. ^ "Michigan Pro Day 2024". mgoblue.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  45. ^ DaSilva, Cameron (April 27, 2024). "Rams select Michigan RB Blake Corum with 83rd pick". Rams Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  46. ^ Carr, Brandon (April 7, 2024). "Michigan football legend Blake Corum to throw ceremonial first Pitch at Detroit Tigers game". WDIV. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
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