Sherrone Moore explains how to balance Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards in backfield

Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore has a luxury and a challenge when coaching Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

The two standout Wolverine running backs are both back for the 2023 campaign. Corum, a Heisman contender last year, was injured down the stretch and then Edwards truly took over as a game changer.

Michigan has one of, if not the best backfield in the country with these two guys. Moore explained how to balance both backs in the offense.

“Yeah, the cool thing is, it’s like there’s a whole bunch of puzzle pieces,” Moore said on the MGoBlue Podcast. “You’re trying to fit them all together and to make this masterpiece of, you know, what we want this offense to look like. And when you have two dynamic players like that, you have to figure out ways to get them the ball in different ways. 

“I’m not gonna tell you (what) those ways (are), maybe we could talk about it off the mic, but I think we have some really creative things that we’re doing with those guys because they are special talents. But at the same time, being very smart with how we do it and when we do it, and how we’re attacking people. So, just excited to put them in their different positions because we’ll have a great plan and we’re starting that right now.”

Corum had the best year of his career in 2022 despite not playing in the Big Ten Championship or College Football Playoff. He had 247 carries for 1,463 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5.9 yards per carry, 11 catches, 80 receiving yards and one touchdown reception.

As far as Edwards is concerned, he got a lot more opportunities to carry the ball than his freshman year. He had 140 carries, 991 yards, seven touchdowns, 7.1 yards per carry, 18 catches, 200 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

Corum likely relished the opportunity to play with Edwards again, but he was originally going to the NFL despite his injury.

“Coach Harbaugh, he said get the surgery and he told me to go to the league,” Corum said. “I said coach what would you do, he said if I were you I’d go to the league. But this is like before I got the surgery, this was before I even thought about coming back, because I was going to the league. It’s a once in a life opportunity, I’m like I’m going.

“But then in the back of my head it’s like you’re not going to be able to do that combine, you’re not gonna be able to show these scouts what you really do. You’ve already been doubted, not in terms of your playing ability, but your size right? You’re not tall. That’s been a factor my whole life. So all these things were on mind like okay are they going to judge me off my film? Are they gonna think I’m slow if I don’t run the 40 (yard dash)? Am I not gonna be able to prove myself or get drafted as high as possible? So all these things were going through my mind.”