Joel Klatt reveals Blake Corum as an example of college football thriving

Blake Corum is an example of college football thriving at the moment. The Michigan running back elected to return to school rather than the NFL in 2023.

Corum did not get first-round grades despite Heisman-type numbers prior to a knee injury in 2022. But Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt pointed out another big reason why he was better off coming back to school.

Part of it is financial based on the current climate of NIL in college football.

“There were all these reasons for it,” Klatt said. “And I know Jim Harbaugh told him, ‘Hey, you need to go. But Blake Corum is a prototypical example about what I’m about to talk about. If you have a third through fifth round grade, and that’s probably where you’re gonna get drafted. And you are a star on your team, like a Blake Corum, or a Michael Penix, or a Bo Nix out at Oregon, well, guess what? You’re likely going to make as much or more money staying in school than you would in your rookie season in the National Football League.” 

Corum finished the 2022 campaign with career numbers. He had 247 carries, 1,463 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5.9 yards per carry, 11 catches, 80 receiving yards and one touchdown reception.

Throughout his Michigan career, Corum has 417 carries, 2,489 yards, 31 touchdowns, six yards per carry, 40 catches, 294 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

“So you don’t automatically have to go (to the NFL) anymore,” Klatt said. “Because the NIL deals are really good, and rightly so. And because of that, we’re getting players that I think previously would have absolutely gone to the NFL, that are staying in college football again. The dawn of the Golden Age. Because of the depth of talent in our sport. And I think that that’s a really great thing.”

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.”