Wouldn't it be Fitting if Corum Won the Heisman?
The Michigan tailback told fans at Crisler Center: "We’re gonna win a national championship" in a joyous halftime moment, but also will be in contention for personal glory
Michigan tailback Blake Corum talking with Fox sideline reporter Jenny Taft before the victory over Michigan State on Oct. 29 at Michigan Stadium.
Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Wouldn’t it be fitting if Blake Corum wins the Heisman Trophy in 2023, one year after a late-season knee injury denied him a trip to New York City as a finalist for that award…and possibly even winning it?
Had Corum gained the 216 yards Donovan Edwards had in beating Ohio State in Columbus, the Heisman would’ve been his. And his good friend Edwards campaigned hard for Corum while he was on the mend.
Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams was a great and deserving winner, but kind of backed into the Heisman after getting hurt and losing to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game.
TCU quarterback Max Duggan, who would beat the Wolverines in the national semi-final game, lost the Big 12 title game and still finished second.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud lost to Michigan after being unable to put up points on the scoreboard at will in “The Game.” He finished third.
You mean to tell me Corum doesn’t win it if he stays healthy and ends up with over 1,800 yards rushing as a result?
That’s what I thought of Wednesday night, when I saw that great smile on Corum’s face as he addressed Crisler Center fans.
After helping a dozen or so teammates throw T-shirts to fans at halftime of the Michigan-Nebraska basketball game, Corum took the mic at half court, smiling widely, and said:
“Man, it feels good to be back! I don’t have much to say. All I got to say is we’re going to run it back. We’re gonna win a national championship and go down in history. Go Blue!”
The fans went bonkers, and Corum walked off the court, waving and beaming all the way to the exit tunnel.
Corum finished with 1,463-yard rushing, and was on pace to break Tshimanga Biakabutuka’s Wolverine single-season mark of 1,818 set in 1995.
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.
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.
Coming back this season provides him the opportunity to enhance an already-great legacy at Michigan.
Now, he probably will share the load with Edwards, who started just two games and still rushed for 991 yards, and has said he expects the carries to be “even” this season with Corum.
That could keep him from attaining the gaudy statistics usually required to win the Heisman. But I just have this feeling about Corum getting what he deserves, and toting that bronze statue of the straight-arming running back home to Ann Arbor…for a half-time ceremony at a Wolverine basketball game, perhaps?
Yep, and with Donovan's hand healed, they'll be throwing more to him again, too. They probably will work him in as a straight wideout, too. Good time to work on it in spring ball, Brian.
Yeah, Michigan probably would be ranked No. 1 if Corum wins the Heisman. This could be the most-anticipated football season ever...and expectations do bring pressure. But I think the guys on this team love that.