Blake Corum admits NFL running back contract disputes is 'frustrating' to see

Blake Corum recognizes it’s a frustrating situation for running backs in the NFL at the moment.

The Michigan running back is focused on what he can do for the Wolverines in 2023, but looking at his future beyond college football, he’s seeing the struggles his fellow ballcarriers are going through. Speaking at Big Ten Media Days, Corum gave some interesting thoughts on current NFL contract disputes taking place.

“I mean, it’s a little frustrating,” explained Corum. “You know, I’m not there yet, so I can’t speak for the players that are literally going through it. But I see they’re having their meetings, and hopefully, things can change, because you know, the running back position has always, and still is, a valuable position. I think it means a lot to the game. You know, you have greats. Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. Then you have now, Derrick Henry and all the guys. So it’s like, those guys mean a lot to the game, man. Why not treat them as such? But like I said, I can’t talk too much about it.

“Yeah, it frustrates me from the outside looking in, but I’m not there, you know I’m not there yet. So I don’t want to speak too much on it, but you know looking at it, it’s a little frustrating.”

Corum will be dealing with it sooner rather than later, and he recognizes that but who knows how things will change by the time he’s in the NFL? Regardless, it’s something the Wolverines running back will keep an eye on, even as Blake Corum looks to lead Michigan to a national title this season.

Blake Corum states NIL was not main factor in return to Michigan

Moreover, Blake Corum’s return for the 2023 season was arguably the single biggest development for Michigan this offseason. A Heisman candidate until he injured his knee in Week 12, Corum opted to return to Ann Arbor to chase big goals.

He was also the beneficiary of a Michigan NIL push — the One More Year Fund — designed to entice him and a group of other upperclassmen to come back. But at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, Corum explained that NIL is merely a nice perk of his return and not the motivating factor.

“NIL, it’s great. But for me, it wasn’t coming back because of NIL. It’s kind of like, ‘OK, that’s a bonus. That’s great.’ But that wasn’t anything for me,” Corum said.

The timing of the injury, for one, would’ve inhibited Corum’s ability to participate in the NFL Combine and draft process. He injured it in the first half of Michigan’s penultimate regular season game against Illinois and was effectively done for the season (he played a handful of snaps against Ohio State). 

The rehab timeline after surgery would’ve kept Corum sidelined during the period he’d otherwise be showing his abilities to NFL personnel.

Additionally, he’ll now leave Michigan with his degree in hand.

“It was honestly the bigger picture. I came back, got my degree. We have one heck of a team coming back,” Corum said.

And most importantly to Corum, after back-to-back flameouts in the College Football Playoff semifinals, he wants to help Michigan get over the hump and bring some serious hardware back for the Wolverines. He could be the crown jewel on one of the best rosters in college football.

“To do the goals we’re setting out to do and bring something real nice home to Ann Arbor,” Corum said.