Michigan's Running Game Will Have Staying Power with Corum, Top Lineman Returning

Keegan coming back to block for Corum, a first-team All-American who hopes to establish himself as one of the Wolverines' top running backs ever in 2023

Blake Corum toting the Paul Bunyan Trophy after carrying the ball 33 times for 177 yards in the 29-7 win over Michigan State Oct. 29 at Michigan Stadium.

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan’s running game will have staying power.

First, Blake Corum announced Monday he was returning. His Twitter post via @blake_corum was headlined: “Unfinished Business. I’m Coming Back.”

Then offensive lineman Trevor Keegan decided the NFL could wait, too. And I’d be surprised if offensive guard Zak Zinter doesn’t return as well. The deadline to declare for the NFL Draft is Monday.

Keegan at @bigtrevk stated: “Back to Work. I’m Coming Back…Want that legend status. #GoBlue.”

So, it’s very likely two members of the 2021 and 2022 Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line are ready to mash more defenders.

And Corum, coming off a 1,463-yard rushing effort that was on pace to break Tshimanga Biakabutuka’s Wolverine single-season mark of 1,818 set in 1995, is ready to go at it one more time.

Corum has 2,492 yards to rank 17th on the career rushing list at Michigan. He would have 3,955 yards if he can just duplicate what he had last season before suffering the season-ending knee injury that required full meniscus repair. Corum was hurt just before halftime of the final home game with Illinois.

That would place him sixth all-time behind his running backs coach, Mike Hart, Denard Robinson, Anthony Thomas, Jamie Morris and Tyrone Wheatley. Hart is tops with 5,040 from 2004-07 for Michigan Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Carr.

Corum has 31 career rushing touchdowns, good for a seventh-place tie with quarterback Steve Smith (1980-83). If he again totaled the 18 he had in 2022, Corum would have 49 and trail only Thomas, who had 55, 1997-2000.

"My goals have always been about leaving an enduring legacy at the winningest program in the history of college football," wrote Corum, a unanimous first-team All-American who also received the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football awarded to the Big Ten’s best player and was the Big Ten’s Running Back of the Year.

"Motivated by my profound love for Michigan and commitment to my education, I have decided to return for another season." 

And with good buddy Donovan Edwards, who rushed for 991 yards, back for his junior season, Michigan will have two backs as good as any back in the country.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will return for his junior season, too.

Corum, Edwards and McCarthy are all viable Heisman Trophy candidates.

Whew!

Does that have you excited about 2023?

Season opens Sept. 2 with East Carolina visiting Michigan Stadium.