Blake Corum recalls decision to play for Michigan, Jim Harbaugh: 'I committed on the spot'

Blake Corum, then a soon-to-be high school senior, wanted to get his college commitment out of the way prior to his final prep football season. And he had two official visits on the docket before deciding: Ohio State and Michigan.

After seeing what the Buckeyes and Columbus had to offer, Corum headed to Ann Arbor to meet with Jim Harbaugh and see what Michigan had in store. It was all he needed to see, as Corum committed to the Wolverines that day in July of 2019, in a move that would turn out to be pivotal for Michigan over the next handful of years.

It’s a decision Corum recounted in an interview on The Herd on FOX Sports.

“I committed on the spot,” Corum, now a Los Angeles Ram, said. “So, I took two official visits. I wanted to commit before my senior year of high school and I took one to Ohio State. Then I took my next one to Michigan. And I committed on spot, I went up to Coach Harbaugh’s office and I said, ‘I’m coming.’ And it was because of his coaching style, his demeanor for the game, his love for the game, his passion for his players. I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to be a Wolverine.'”

It was a decision that was good for Corum, too. He developed into the feature back for the Wolverines in 2022 and 2023, finishing in the Top 10 in Heisman voting both years and racking up 45 rushing touchdowns in his final two college seasons. Corum also helped Michigan return to Big Ten dominance and win the 2023 national championship.

He parlayed his college career into his current role with the Rams, where the rookie is expected to serve as a counterpunch in the rushing game alongside Kyren Williams.

And in Los Angeles, Corum plays for head coach Sean McVay, who’s seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm remind the tailback of his former college coach — who also happens to be nearby with the Los Angeles Chargers, now.

“I would definitely say their enthusiasm for the game,” Corum said, discussing similarities between the two. “Coach Harbaugh always talks about enthusiasm unknown to mankind but you see that daily by Coach McVay. Like his energy, it doesn’t matter what time it is in the morning of what time it is in the evening, he’s the same guy each and every day as I saw through OTAs. I love playing for him, so far, and it’s only been what, maybe a month and a half of OTAs? I’m blessed.”