Blake Corum planned to enter NFL Draft prior to suffering injury against Illinois

Michigan running back Blake Corum had his mind made up — the Illinois game last November was going to be the last of his career at The Big House.

Corum was putting the finishing touches on an incredible year, which ended with him being a unanimous first-team All-American. He was ready to take his talents to the NFL and thought going into the Nov. 19 matchup that the game against the Illini would be his final one at Michigan Stadium.

An injury in the first half of that matchup changed everything for Corum and ultimately led to him coming back to Ann Arbor for one more season.

“Going into the Illinois game, that was my last [home] game,” Blake Corum said on Bussin’ With The Boys. “Donovan [Edwards] knew. That was my last game.”

Corum, who rushed for 1,463 yards in 12 games last season, injured his knee in the second quarter against Illinois. He tried to play the following week against Ohio State but came out of the game after only a few plays. He ended up missing the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue, as well as the College Football Playoff matchup with TCU.

Corum is now back and healthy and wants to do something special in his final season with the Wolverines.

“I can’t go out like that,” Corum said. “And then everyone’s coming back. We have a chance at the big thing. The thing that we’ll be remembered as. We’re talking about the national championship.”

Corum and Edwards are a big reason why there are high expectations for Michigan this fall. The two make up arguably the top running back duo in the country. The Wolverines are ranked No. 2 in the preseason coaches poll, which was released earlier this week.

“The NFL’s not going anywhere. And as you can see right now with the RB market, it’s not good, you know what I’m saying,” Corum said. “But that wasn’t even the reason anyways. But the team coming back. The team, man. The majority of everyone is coming back. You only get college once, and I don’t want to have any regrets.”

Blake Corum ‘good to go’ following 2022 injury

It wasn’t a quick road to recovery for Blake Corum after suffering an injury against Illinois, but the senior is now healthy and ready for the start of the 2023 season.

Last month at Big Ten Media Days, the Michigan running back reassured Wolverines fans he will be better than ever in 2023.

“I had a doctor’s appointment the other day, and the doctor cleared me,” Corum said. “Maybe I should double-check with him just to make sure that was the official clear, but I’m feeling great, so I’m going to clear myself.”