FOOTBALL

Michigan football: More major national praise for Blake Corum

Michigan football running back Blake Corum is turning a lot of heads right now, even being graded as a top player in college football.

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2023

Blue by Ninety

Michigan football running back Blake Corum

Sep 17, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) rushes in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

After a remarkable performance against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Week 12 of the previous season, Michigan football star running back Blake Corum unfortunately suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the rest of that game, as well as crucial matchups against Ohio State, the Big Ten title game, and the Fiesta Bowl.

Despite accumulating over 140 yards against a formidable top-3 defense, Corum’s injury cut short his season. However, he has been diligently rehabilitating and is now poised for a remarkable comeback season.

Major national praise for Michigan football running back Blake Corum

In a recent tweet by Pro Football Focus, they revealed their rankings of the highest-graded returning Power 5 college football players for the upcoming 2023 season. Among the notable names featured on the list were Jordan Travis, Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., and others.

However, sitting at the pinnacle of PFF’s rankings is none other than Michigan football’s standout running back, Blake Corum, who holds an impressive overall grade of 96.2. This exceptional rating places him significantly ahead of his closest competitor, Jordan Travis from Florida State, whose grade of 91.7 is noticeably lower.

Highest graded returning players⭐️ pic.twitter.com/AorGGn3qUV

— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 16, 2023

Blake Corum and his impact on Wolverine football

Over the course of his three years in Ann Arbor, Blake Corum has consistently proven himself as one of the top players in the nation. Not only has he excelled in terms of statistics, but he has also amassed an impressive collection of awards and honors.

In terms of statistics, Corum has showcased his prowess on the field during his time at Michigan. He has carried the ball 417 times, accumulating nearly 2,500 yards at an average of 6.0 yards per carry, and scoring 31 touchdowns. In his debut year in 2021, where he received significant playing time, Corum rushed for 952 yards on 144 carries, averaging an impressive 6.6 yards per carry, and scored 11 touchdowns.

As a full-time starter in 2022, he further solidified his status by carrying the ball 247 times for 1,463 yards at 5.9 yards per carry, resulting in 18 touchdowns. Additionally, Corum has demonstrated his versatility by making 40 receptions for 294 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per reception, and scoring two touchdowns. Notably, he made a career-long reception of 41 yards before getting injured against Illinois.

Corum’s exceptional performance has earned him numerous awards and honors throughout his tenure at U-M. Some of these accolades include being named a Unanimous First-Team All-American in 2022, a finalist for the Doak Walker Award in the same year, and winning the Chicago Tribune Silver Football in 2022. He also became the first player in program history to be honored as the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2022. Corum has been selected for All-Big Ten honors twice, receiving consensus first-team recognition in 2022 and being named to the third team by coaches, honorable mention by media in 2021.

In terms of academics, he has been recognized as a CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 in 2021 and has been named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in both 2021 and 2022. His outstanding performances on the field have also led to him being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in September 2021 and sharing the Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week title in September 2022. Within the team, he was acknowledged as the Most Valuable Player and has received the Toughest Player and Blue Collar Awards in 2022.

In 2021, he shared the Offensive Skill Player of the Year honors. Notably, Corum tied the Michigan program record by scoring five touchdowns in a single game against UConn on September 17, 2022.

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