Michigan football RB Blake Corum announces NFL draft decision
The biggest news of the month thus far for Michigan football came on Monday when star running back Blake Corum appeared on the “Rich Eisen Show” on Roku TV to share what his future plans are.
Thought to be a high-round NFL draft pick if he were to depart the college program in 2023, Corum had a big decision to make: Stay or go?
After appearing in 12 games and rushing 247 times for 1,463 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, along with 11 receptions for 80 yards and a receiving touchdown, Corum only had two snaps in the regular season finale against Ohio State. He didn’t appear in either the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue or in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against TCU.
Apparently, Corum believes he has unfinished business. He announced to Michigan alumnus Rich Eisen, the NFL Network host, that he will be returning to the Wolverines in 2023.
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Corum’s return significantly bolsters an offense that could return the bulk of its production from 2022. He’ll pair, again, with running back Donovan Edwards, who carried the load in the final two games of the season, while J.J. McCarthy, Colston Loveland, Roman Wilson and other prominent players return. With Corum back in the fold, all eyes will be on offensive linemen Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter, who appear to be on the fence about their decision to return to college or head to the NFL.
Certainly, name, image and likeness considerations play a factor. No longer do players have to be concerned about being left high and dry should they suffer a significant injury by coming back to college. Injury concerns haven’t dissuaded some players, such as former tight end Jake Butt and cornerback Jourdan Lewis, two former Wolverines who both had high draft grades yet returned for their senior seasons. Like them, Corum is an All-American, having received unanimous honors this past season.
Corum was essentially lost for the season after getting hit in the knee by a helmet near halftime in the penultimate regular season game against Illinois. He attempted to play at Ohio State, yet appeared to further aggravate his condition. He had surgery on his meniscus the following week and appeared on crutches as a spectator at the College Football Playoff semifinal in Glendale, Arizona.
While he returns for another year, he technically has two years of eligibility remaining, given that his freshman season, the COVID year of 2020, is considered a free year eligibility-wise.
As for those still on the fence, Valiant Management Group has launched the One More Year Fund in an attempt to lure those who could come back to Ann Arbor for another year to do so through monetary compensation that’s crowdfunded through NIL.
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