Blake Corum is the starting running back for the Michigan Wolverines and will be a 2024 NFL Draft prospect when his career with Michigan comes to an end. When you take a look at Corum, he is a small running back when compared to current guys in the NFL. Currently, for the 2023 season, the average height and weight for running backs in the NFL is 5 feet 10 inches and 213 pounds. Corum measures 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 213 pounds. He is just a bit shorter and has the weight. Even though he may not be smaller, he does not come up short on the field.
Could Blake Corum be a first-round draft pick?
In his four years at Michigan, Blake Corum has put up nearly 3500 yards gained on just over 600 carries. He is averaging around 5.5 yards a carry. Corum is the one running back that I could see going in the first round; he would be late in the first round but still in the first round. Even if you were to take away his fourth season, Corum still has better numbers than Jahmyr Gibbs‘s three years of college ball. Corum’s numbers are even similar to those of former Doak Walker Award winner Najee Harris. Both of those running backs were taken late in the first round.
Along with those yards that Blake Corum has accumulated in his four years at Michigan, he has also put up an impressive 53 touchdowns, averaging 13 touchdowns each year. That is more than first-round pick Bijan Robinson, who had only an average of 11 touchdowns in his three years at Texas. Yes, Corum does have one extra year than Robinson, but if you take Bijan Robinson’s two best years and Blake Corum’s two best years, Corum is the better of the two running backs. Corum is averaging 20 touchdowns in those two years, while Robinson only averaged 14 touchdowns.
Who is the best comparison for Blake Corum?
While looking at who to compare Blake Corum to, it came down to one obvious choice. At the same time, there were a handful of small but mighty running backs like Darren Sproles, Maurice-Jones Drew, Doug Martin, Mark Ingram, Frank Gore, and Emmit Smith. After much consideration and watching a Blake Corum highlight video, the best comparison that I could come up with is Detriot Lion’s Legend and NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
I understand how great a player Barry Sanders was and that comparing Blake Corum to him is a massive, massive thing to do. Corum has impressive footwork, just like Sanders. If you do not believe this, take 10 minutes out of your day and watch a Barry Sanders highlight video and then a Blake Corum highlight video. It is unbelievable how much Corum looks like Sanders out on the field. If Corum was given the ball just as much as Sanders was given the ball, then he could have won a Heisman as well.
It makes sense that Blake Corum’s game looks a lot like Barry Sanders’s when he was on the field since he said in an interview with ESPN that he modeled his game after Barry Sanders. From the footwork to finding the hole to making defenders miss, their games are so similar. Blake Corum has a chance to have an extraordinary career and could have a substantial big steal if his dominance continues into the NFL.
Which NFL team will end up landing Blake Corum?
Blake Corum will most likely end up being, at best, an end-of-the-first-round pick, but should come off the board no later than the middle of the second round. The first team that could be taking a shot at the Michigan running back is the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Pollard has been a bit of a disappointment this season and is a free agent this offseason. With Ezekiel Elliot being cut last offseason, the Dallas Cowboys will be in need of running back help in the offseason.
The second team that should have Blake Corum on their big board and should be trying to grab him is the Los Angeles Chargers. Austin Eckler is the starting running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, and he is also on a contract year. He has had a bit of a down season dealing with a high ankle sprain. While he missed time, his backups did next to nothing and have not been great for the team. Eckler has also had contract disputes with the front office. The Los Angeles Chargers could let Eckler walk and grab Blake Corum in the second round and have their back of the future.
Blake Corum ticks every box that coaches, owners, and scouts should be looking for. Even though he may not have the size lots of people look for, he has the feet, the speed, and the heart that really matters. Plus, Corum rarely turns the ball over. In his four seasons at Michigan, he has fumbled the ball six times, and only 2 of those fumbles were turned over. No matter where this kid lands, he will have the greatest opportunity in front of him. He has all of the potential in the world to end up in Canton when his career is done.
