Jim Harbaugh told Blake Corum to enter NFL Draft, happy he returned

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was very happy Blake Corum came back to school even after he told him to go to the NFL Draft.

The star running back suffered a season-ending injury towards the end of the 2022 campaign but had NFL potential. However, the Heisman contender opted to come back to school amid his rehab and wanted to run it back with the Wolverines.

Harbaugh recently spoke about that decision and process for Corum.

“I mean, that was my opinion but you know he wanted to have a full offseason where he could train and prepare,” Harbaugh said of wanting Corum to go to the NFL. “(He wants to) bring his best to a team. That’s who he is. And I was quick to say hey, ‘I support that as well.’ When you know him, it clicks immediately. I mean that’s who he is. So he’s been a guy that knocking on the door of the weight room and it’s six in the morning. ‘Hey, we can let you in til six.’

“He’s maniacal in his preparation, his training, everything in detail. I think this really gave him an opportunity to take his time to get right and that’s one of those guys that has tremendous character and the last two years as a teammate it’s up there with the elite.”

Last season, Corum had a career year before the injury. He finished with 247 carries, 1,463 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5.9 yards per carry, 11 catches, 80 receiving yards and one touchdown reception.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Corum was a four-star recruit out of Laurel (M.D.) St. Frances Academy, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 6 overall prospect in the state, the No. 11 running back in the class and the No. 117 overall prospect in the class.

“The NFL’s not going nowhere. So what’s one more year,” Corum said. “I’m getting all these pros: my degree, the chance to win a national championship, the chances of leaving a true legacy, chance of being a hero, I’m in the community here big time, so I get one more year with the community, charities, and just giving back.

“There are too many pros for just something that’s always going to be there, so it was all about the bigger picture coming back honestly.”