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

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.

Corum knows expectations are high for Michigan in 2023

Corum didn’t mess around when he talked about what he expects at Michigan this coming season. It’s a national championship or bust.

Two straight Big Ten titles and two straight College Football Playoff semifinal losses, it’s time to put up or shut up. That’s how Corum explained it. 

Well, to be more specific, he said “enough dreaming,” about the end result.

“I hold my teammates, myself and the coaches hold us to a high standard right,” Corum said at Big Ten Media Days. “And part of me coming back was, I said unfinished business. You know that was my thing, unfinished business on the field, off the field, you know, in general. But we have a team that is very special right now. A lot of guys came back.

“You know, JJ has another year under his belt … Team wise, we’re great. We’ve been working our butts off this year. I mean, this summer, and I believe the camaraderie and the growth, brotherly love that we have within each other right now is crazy.”