Tag: Blake Corum

2021 Season Countdown: #17 Blake Corum

Name: Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Running back
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #2
Last year: I ranked Corum #58 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He started one game and had 26 carries for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 5 catches for 73 yards.
TTB Rating: 83

I’ve never seen so much off-season hype for a running back who averaged 2.96 yards per carry the previous season, but that’s where we are as Michigan fans, hoping for players to come out of nowhere and be stars. Corum did show flashes in 2020, bouncing a stuffed run outside for a touchdown against MSU, catching a 24-yard toss (which was officially scored as a pass but should have been a rush) against Minnesota, etc. Michigan’s offensive line and quarterback play were mostly questionable last season, so those things are probably at least partially responsible for Corum’s lack of production. He also showed some impatience at times.

With Chris Evans (Cincinnati Bengals) and Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) now departed, Corum clearly moves up on the depth chart. All accounts have Hassan Haskins as the #1 guy on the depth chart and Corum #2, with freshmen Donovan Edwards and Tavierre Dunlap backing them up. Michigan has typically rotated several backs, but the depth chart gets thin quickly with only four scholarship players on the roster. It will be important for all the backs to stay healthy, especially Haskins and Corum. Corum also has value as a receiver and seems to have more big-play ability than Haskins.

Prediction: Backup running back

Anatomy of a Running Back Substitution, Part 2

The other day I posted about Michigan’s running back rotations (LINK). Today I will be addressing why running backs might get rotated.

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There are a lot of reasons to rotate running backs from play to play. Ideally, you have a perfect, three-down running back who never gets hurt or makes mental mistakes . . . but those are rare.

Hit the jump for a discussion of eight reasons to sub in new running backs.

2020 Season Countdown: #58 Blake Corum

Name: Blake Corum
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 193 lbs.
High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances
Position: Running back
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Corum was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran 145 times for 1,266 yards and 19 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 83

Running backs always get a lot of attention and hype, and Corum is no exception due to his running style and production against high-level opponents, such as Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei. He ended up as a 4-star, the #12 running back, and #128 overall and played in the All-American Bowl.

Corum enrolled early at Michigan, which didn’t help with practice time because of the coronavirus pandemic. On the plus side, Corum has posted videos of himself doing some tough workouts on his own, and he’s going to be 20 years old by the time the 2020 season wraps. (By contrast, Giles Jackson played his 2019 season at the age of 17.)

Corum’s freshman season will probably be pretty boring from a playing time perspective. Last year’s co-starters (Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins) both return, as does former starter Chris Evans, who was suspended in 2019. Corum will probably be the fourth running back, at least if he can beat out Christian Turner, which I think he can. That should help him get his feet wet for a bigger role in 2021.

Prediction: Backup running back

Hit the jump for some highlights from his 2019 season.

Senior Highlights: RB Blake Corum

How does the 2020 class match up with Michigan’s all-time recruits?

Michigan wrapped up a decent recruiting class earlier in February. There are no 5-star recruits, but the Wolverines got a fair share of 4-star guys. For a historical perspective on where they match up with recruits from the past, here’s a look at where they slot in all-time, according to the 247 Composite.

A.J. Henning – WR – Frankfort (IL) Lincoln-Way East
2020 ranking: #101
Historical ranking: #80 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: RB Kareem Walker (#100 in 2016) and DT Will Johnson (#105 in 2004)
Closest positional comparisons: Toney Clemons (#96 in 2007) and Adrian Arrington (#115 in 2004)

Braiden McGregor – DE – Port Huron (MI) Northern
2020 ranking: #122
Historical ranking: #103
Tied with: WR Tarik Black (#122 in 2017)
Closest positional comparisons: Aidan Hutchinson (#112 in 2018) and Chris Wormley (#129 in 2012)

Hit the jump for more.