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What does Corum’s return mean for Michigan football?

Monday afternoon, Michigan football star Blake Corum announced that he will be returning for his senior season with the Wolverines in 2023.

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Nov 19, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) is tackled by Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. (5) in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Monday afternoon, Michigan’s star running back — Blake Corum — announced that his time in the Maize and Blue is not over just yet. What does Corum’s return mean for the Wolverines?

Michigan football should be favored for many titles

Over the past two seasons, Michigan football has dominated the Big Ten and beyond. The Wolverines have a 6-2 record in non-conference play, and a 19-1 record in Big Ten play. Aside from Michigan’s 37-33 loss at Michigan State in 2021, U-M has been unstoppable in the Big Ten.

Since that loss in East Lansing, Michigan football is 2-0 against Penn State (21-17 in 2021, 41-17 in 2022) and 2-0 against Ohio State (42-27 in 2021, 45-23 in 2022). Additionally, Michigan brought Paul Bunyan back to Ann Arbor in 2022 with a dominant 29-7 beatdown of Michigan State in late-October.

Michigan is 2-0 in Big Ten Championship games since 2021, becoming the second team to win back-to-back conference titles in the championship game era. Ohio State was the first.

Michigan will finish the 2022 season as the No. 3 team in the nation just as it did in 2021 — this is the first time since 1947-48 that the Wolverines finished in the top-3 in back-to-back seasons. If that was not enough, Michigan has back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, and could be gearing up for even more in the years to come. In 2023, the Wolverines should be favored to make another run at the conference crown and more.

It has been a long time since Michigan football was favored to win the Big Ten heading into the season; in fact, in 2021 and 2022 Ohio State appeared to be a clear-cut favorite. Still, the Wolverines continue to climb and establish themselves as the premier team in the conference. While Penn State and Ohio State will always pose a threat to the Wolverines’ crown, there is no reason to think that U-M won’t be able to win its third-straight Big Ten Championship this fall.

The Wolverines are brining in a good amount of freshman talent as well as an elite, 4th-ranked transfer portal class. Michigan’s portal class includes seven players, six of whom should play a major roll on next year’s roster. On top of that, U-M is returning many starters on both sides of the ball, most notably, quarterback JJ McCarthy and running backs Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum.

When the initial 2023 preseason polls come out, don’t be surprised if the Wolverines are No. 1.

Blake Corum brings much-needed leadership to U-M

As we have seen time and time again, Blake Corum acts like a glue that holds Michigan football together at times. U-M has become one of the nation’s most revered programs during Corum’s time in Ann Arbor, and a lot of the Wolverines’ much-needed culture changes have come due to his hard work. Blake Corum is a driving force for U-M both on and off of the football field, and having him in the locker room next year is a massive pickup for Michigan.

Blake Corum is yet another weapon on Michigan’s dangerous offense

Michigan football boasted a top-6 offense in 2022 — ranking 6th in both scoring and total offense — and should be even better in 2023. The Wolverines’ offensive line, which has now won two-straight Joe Moore Awards, should be revamped and just as good this fall due to its in-house talent and the incoming transfers. At tight end, Michigan football has sophomore Colston Loveland and 4-star transfer AJ Barner from Indiana.

The Wolverines will also have a veteran quarterback under center: JJ McCarthy. JJ threw for 2,917 yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions throughout the 2022 season, not to mention his 79.3 quarterback rating. In 2023, I expect McCarthy to take another leap forward in his collegiate career and possibly develop into one of the best Michigan QBs of all time.

Most importantly, U-M returns the best running back duo in all of college football in 2023. This fall, we will see junior Donovan Edwards and senior Blake Corum take the field together for another campaign — this is massive news for the Wolverines. This season, Corum and Edwards combined for 2,454 rushing yards and 280 yards through the air. In total, that is 2,734 yards from scrimmage that can be attributed to Edwards and Corum, who will only get better as time goes on.

Corum himself compiled over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground in 10.5 games this season before being sidelined with an injury against Illinois. With Blake Corum hungry for a revenge season, the Big Ten should be scared of Michigan’s offense this year.

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New Michigan transfer has endless praise for JJ McCarthy on and off the field

A fellow Michigan quarterback had endless praise for starter JJ McCarthy

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Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy
© Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, MI — Most people would look at a player like Michigan’s rising junior quarterback and jump to conclusions. Michigan football quarterback JJ McCarthy was a five-star high school recruit, and is currently the starting quarterback at one of the biggest and most influential universities in the world. On top of that, he just led his Wolverines to a 13-1 season — the winningest in program history — including wins over Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State, not to mention the Big Ten title and CFP appearance.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Michigan football quarterback Jack Tuttle — who just transferred into Ann Arbor from Indiana — gave insight on who JJ McCarthy truly is on and off the field.

JJ McCarthy is more than a football player, says new Michigan football quarterback transfer

No one would blame JJ McCarthy for being cocky if he were to be — he backs it up on the field and appears to have everything in the world going for him. Still, McCarthy finds time to just be himself; regardless of his circumstance, McCarthy remains true to the person that he wants to be.

“Most people would kind of look at a guy like J.J., quarterback, big-time guy, they might think he’s arrogant or something. That dude is the most down-to-earth person,” Tuttle told the media. “I can’t say this enough — a great human being, great football player. I love being around him.”

On top of being a good man, JJ McCarthy is one hell of a quarterback, Michigan football quarterback Jack Tuttle says.

“Obviously Michigan gets under center, multiple, there’s a lot of stuff on offense — footwork wise, I’m looking at that like ‘wow’. I haven’t really been under center since high school. Looking at his footwork and how he’s progressed over the past couple of years and just taking little things that he does and maybe implementing it.”

While JJ McCarthy headlines the Michigan football quarterback room, Tuttle claims that the Wolverines are loaded at QB heading into the 2023 season.

“That whole quarterback room, I’m just stoked to be in there. Such good dudes. Really love the guy so far,” Tuttle said of McCarthy. “It’s been phenomenal. I can’t wait to see where we go.”



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Michigan football to host NIL Pep Rally ahead of Spring Game

Thursday afternoon, more exciting news came out regarding Michigan’s annual Spring Game

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh talks with reporters before the Fiesta Bowl against TCU on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Michfiesta2 122822 Kd 2277

For Michigan football fans, the anticipation is rising as the annual Spring Game draws closer with every waking minute. On Thursday afternoon, the University of Michigan announced they would host a NIL Pep Rally before the Spring Game on April 1.

It’s no secret that coach Jim Harbaugh loves to put on a show for the fans, so this news should come as no surprise. Here is everything we know so far.

What can be expected?

Attending the event is a star-studded list, as coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football team plan to make appearances. Aside from the football team, 180 athletes across ten University of Michigan athletic teams will attend. Along with meeting some of these student-athletes, many will be available for autograph signings at the event.

Along with the opportunity to meet some of your favorite student-athletes, fans can participate in various activities. There will be face painting, tailgate games and a photo booth. Finally, former star Wolverines Jon Jansen and Jake Butt will be making an appearance for a special Chalk Talk.

Pep Rally Details

The event, presented by the leading NIL collective Valiant Management Group, will occur on April 1, 2023, in Crisler Center. The event is set to occur between 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in preparation for the spring game, which will take place in the Michigan Stadium.

Just last year, the team celebrated the opportunity to play in their first spring game since 2018. Now, it appears coach Harbaugh is ready to get back in action and get the fans even more involved. Tickets for the event are $30; kids 12 and under can get in free with a paying adult. To purchase your tickets, click here.



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Major outlet ranks Jim Harbaugh as No. 1 coach in the Big Ten

A major outlet ranked Jim Harbaugh as the best coach in the Big Ten.

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Jim Harbaugh of Michigan football
Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh throws prior to the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR, MI — Over the past two seasons, the entire identity of the Michigan Wolverines’ football program has changed. Before 2021, the Michigan football team was coming off of a 2-4 season in 2020; before that, the Wolverines were managing 8-10 wins per season, though consistantly losing to Ohio State, their bowl game, and saw frequent losses to Michigan State and Penn State. Since that 2021 season, everything has changed for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines — in fact, Harbaugh is now thought of as the best coach in his conference.

Jim Harbaugh changes everything for Michigan football in 2021

After arguably the worst season in Michigan football history (2020), Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines decided to go all-in on the 2021 season. At his Big Ten media presser, Harbaugh claimed that Michigan would accomplish its goals (beating Ohio State, Michigan State, winning the Big Ten, and more) or “die trying.” The Wolverines did exactly that — Michigan football finished the regular season with an 11-1 record after downing Ohio State 42-27 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines then won the Big Ten title for the first time since 2004; however, were dominated by Georgia in the CFP.

A season later, Michigan football appeared to improve as Jim Harbaugh led his team to a 12-0 finish — including massive 20+ point wins over Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State — before winning the program’s first-ever 13th game in a single season. While the Wolverines still fell short against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, the 2022 season was monumental for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football.

Heading into the 2023 season, Michigan appears to have its best roster during the Jim Harbaugh era (since 2015). In fact, right now, the Wolverines come into the season favored against every major program that it must face: Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State. If the Wolverines aren’t competing for a Big Ten title this year, most fans will call the season a disappointment.

On3 ranks Harbaugh No. 1 in the Big Ten

Of the 14 coaches in the Big Ten, On3 claims that none are better than Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. Here is what On3 had to say about Harbaugh and why he is ranked No. 1:

It took some time, but Jim Harbaugh fulfilled his promise of beating Ohio State and delivering his alma mater a Big Ten Championship. 

Then he did it again last season. The Wolverines are 25-3 the last two years, with a pair of conference titles and College Football Playoff berths. While Harbaugh has downplayed some of the major cultural and philosophical changes he made before the 2021 season, he deserves credit for pivoting and overhauling his staff. 

In eight years at Michigan, Harbaugh has five seasons with at least 10 wins. Although the yearly NFL rumors remain a distraction, the Wolverines don’t look like they’re going to slowdown at all under Harbaugh, either. They bring back a loaded squad in 2023 — with Harbaugh supplementing the depth chart with several key additions from the transfer portal — and will be the favorites to three-peat in the Big Ten. 

While I weigh the present more than the past, Harbaugh’s coaching resume also includes jumpstarting Stanford’s program (12-1 season in his final year) and four years with the San Francisco 49ers where he never had a losing season, played in the NFC Championship Game three times and lost to his brother John Harbaugh in the Super Bowl.

The next three coaches behind Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are: Ryan Day (Ohio State), Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), and James Franklin (Penn State).



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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