Blake Corum, RB Michigan: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Corum was a four-star recruit from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md. in the class of 2020

Michigan’s Blake Corum spent most of last season playing behind Hassan Haskins. It’s Corum’s turn to shine now that Haskins is in the NFL. The shifty Virginia native was one of the most exciting 2023 NFL Draft prospects I’ve watched so far. I wouldn’t rule out Corum playing himself into the first round discussion.

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Blake Corum, RB Michigan: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Marshall, Va.

Background: Corum was a four-star recruit from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 129 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 105 for Rivals, and No. 115 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 120th in the nation with an 84 grade out of 100. Corum was the 2019-20 Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland when he carried the ball 145 times for 1,266 yards and 22 total touchdowns. As a junior, he rushed for 1,415 yards to go along with 280 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns. Corum was selected to participate in the Under Armour All-American Game. He was born on Nov. 25, 2000.

2021 Production: 12 games, 144 carries, 952 yards, 11 touchdowns + 24 receptions, 141 yards, 1 touchdown + 12 kick returns, 304 yards

2020 Production: 6 games, 26 carries, 74 yards, 2 touchdowns + 5 receptions, 73 yards + 5 kick returns, 96 yards

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed two games (2021) with an ankle injury

Awards: 2021 Third-Team All-Big Ten, 2021 Paul Hornung Award semifinalist, Bank of Ann Arbor Community Award

Pros: Acceleration, bursts through gaps, willing blocker in pass protection, vision, Michigan gives him snaps in the slot and out wide as a receiver, good hands to consistently threaten defenses as a pass catcher, experienced in all four phases of special teams, compact build with a low center of gravity, breaks arm tackles, can eliminate the pursuit angles of some defenders, strings together multiple cuts, shifty player who makes defenders miss with subtle moves, weapon on screen plays, electric speed shows up on kick returns, consistently generates yards after contact (about 3.8 per attempt), finishes runs falling forward, doesn’t shy away from contact, above average contact balance, stays on the field for third downs, loose lower body athlete, explosive north-south and east-west, twitchy and sudden, speed and acceleration to score from anywhere, makes defenders miss in a phone booth, keeps legs churning

Cons: Processing in pass protection doesn’t always lead to the right decisions, gets moved backward too quickly in pass pro at times, limited receiving production when in the slot or out wide, three dropped passes in 2021, needs to expand his role as a receiver and route tree, lacks the bulk and power to consistently create inside the tackles, not a true burner, wouldn’t trust him with too many reps in pass pro, frame will be too small for some teams, likely works in a two-headed backfield in the NFL instead of as a feature back

Overview: Corum is unofficially listed at 5'8", 200 lbs. His explosive playmaking skills jump off the tape quickly. The Virginia native possesses plenty of twitch and excels at making defenders miss in a phone booth. Corum flashes the acceleration and speed to bolt through holes for large gains and win on outside runs. While he has high-end speed, there are some instances of him getting caught from behind once his initial burst wears off. Corum outruns some pursuit angles but also has a compact build that allows him to always finish falling forward. He never shies away from contact, even in pass protection. Corum is inconsistent in pass protection, but his receiving skills and playmaker traits in open space mean he stays on the field for third downs.

Overall, Corum is an exciting back who possesses the acceleration, speed, and twitch to score from almost anywhere on the field. However, physical limitations likely pencil him in as the star of a two-man show instead of a solo lead back.

Role & Scheme Fit: Gap or outside zone scheme where he sees 40+ targets per year

Round Projection: Early Second to Early Third

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-16-22