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
Corum deserves the hype. He had the most impressive freshman season we've seen from a RB in a while. He ran off a high 4-star recruit and got carries over a guy drafted to the NFL. When you're dealing with tiny sample sizes the eye test tells you a lot more than YPC.
ReplyDeleteCorum is my idea of an ideal RB - short, squat, fast, with a diverse skillset. He runs tough but also has a good burst.
That all said, I wouldn't rank a RB this high. Part-time player who will rotate at a position of strength where freshman can fit in as needed.
Most impressive freshman season since from a running back since...2019 when Zach Charbonnet set some freshman rushing records.
DeleteHaha, true
DeleteI like Corum. We need that breakaway speed, and his ability to catch are a bigtime plus. Doesn't mean he'll supplant Haskins, who has proven to know where to go, and how to get there. Dude just fights, and we need that
Charbonnet lacked playmaking ability. He didn't stand out from the pack between a walk-on and a converted defender. I liked his game but he was very much in the Smith/Higdon mode - solid not special. A worker.
DeleteThe most IMPRESSIVE thing that Charbonnet did was block well for a freshman. Maturity is great but I'm not going to jump up on my feet when a "mature" player subs into the game.
To me, what Corum did in 2020 was more impressive than what Charbonnet did in 2019. Corum beat out Charbonnet and Evans and looked capable of being a future star. Charbonnet took a walk-on job before getting overtaken by Hassan Haskins and looked like a solid and reliable all around back.
No argument about productivity. I'm talking about my feelings here. The eye test. Chris Evans also popped as a freshman, so no guarantees, but Corum could be a great one.
@JE
ReplyDeleteI love Haskins. Big, physical, tough, and makes his own yards. He's like Deveon Smith, probably even better. I don't expect Corum to pass him right away but I think if the OL gets their act together he could look like the better playmaker.
With "meh" QB, a new OL under a new OL coach, Haskins could be #1 on this list
DeleteBut yeah, if things click, Corum has the talent to be a Saturday enjoyment, maybe at a national level
Sometimes you want a Deveon Smith back there to make his own yards and sometimes you want a Giles Jackson to make the most of the opportunities the OL/offense give you. I don't think Haskins and Corum are THAT different but I'm expecting the offense to lean to the former, though I do have vague hopes (maybe 5% chance) that the OL comes together under Moore and mashes people.
DeleteDoesn't really matter who is used more since both will get plenty of opportunities and both are probably pretty good. Hard to be very valuable as a RB so I don't see Haskins as being worthy of 1. You can put Derrick Henry on this team and he wouldn't be 1 either.
Maybe Edwards will do more for the team this year to help make up for the lack of depth. Some are calling for him to start. Whoa there Nelly!
ReplyDeleteLOL
Delete"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."
ReplyDeleteNot so true it turned out. Dunlap was irrelevant. The depth chart was fine with 3, even when 2 got hurt. Corum got injured and Haskins just took on a bigger workload, no problemo. Edwards (who also missed some time but was dismissed midseason by several here) was only needed to provide 2 carries when Corum was out with an injury for PSU. Then he showed out against Maryland. To some that meant he couldn't run between the tackles but then he earned a 1st quarter carry i form up the gut against OSU, with Haskins and Corum available. Didn't need 3 at all, let alone 4, but used them when they had em. Used 1 when they needed to use 1, with minimal substitution. (a situation repeated to close 2022).