Michigan's Blake Corum on NIL: 'We're not out here paying high school athletes'

When Blake Corum made the decision to return to Michigan, he cited unfinished business he wanted to attend to.

The running back injured his left knee in November against Illinois. Removed from the Ohio State game after two plays, he didn’t want to exit his career without helping the Wolverines one last time in the Big House and College Football Playoff.

Back for a final season, Corum’s decision probably would have been completely different four years ago. The running back easily would have headed to the NFL and made the most of his contract situation.

NIL clearly played a role, though.

Next to Marvin Harrison Jr., Corum has emerged as one of the Big Ten’s NIL success stories. He has inked deals with Outback Steakhouse, The 33rd Team and Subway in the last two years. The former four-star recruit has worked multiple camps. The biggest success has come through flipping houses, a business venture he recently said he is hoping to turn into “an empire.” The Athletic reported earlier this year Corum could make over $1 million during his final year in Ann Arbor of NIL.

All of the NIL success has come from on-field success.

In the last two seasons, Corum has rushed for 2,415 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging over 6 yards per carry. At Big Ten Media Days last week, the tailback made clear the NIL situation that awaits at Michigan for recruits.

“If you come here and if you’re successful, you have a good chance of making a good amount of money,” he emphasized. “NIL doesn’t matter at Michigan. That’s why we’re not out here paying high school athletes. You have to come here, put in the work. You’ll reap what you sow.”

NIL has changed the world of high school recruiting and the transfer portal. Collectives have emerged across the Power 5, with boosters raising funds to retain athletes and attract prospects. The NIL landscape has naturally matured as it approaches its two-year anniversary. Boosters and institutions scrambled throughout 2021 and into 2022 to establish collectives to pool funds together. Now those organizations are trying to figure out how to run sustainable models while managing a budget and helping field a competitive roster. 

Corum was not recruited in this era of college sports. He has heard plenty of stories, however, such as the Jaden Rashada situation at Florida. A highly-touted quarterback in the 2023 class, he was offered $13.85 million to play for Florida. The collective ultimately terminated his contract, leaving Rashada in a tough situation.

Those seven-figure and eight-figure numbers are not being wheeled at Michigan. They probably never will be either, as head coach Jim Harbaugh has spoken out against recruits earning cash before playing a snap.

But Blake Corum is a testament to the opportunities that can follow a success story at Michigan. With nearly a dozen NIL deals, he has no problem outlining to recruits what can come after on-field production. The Wolverines’ brand and fanbase are a big factor, too.

“I hear a lot about the portal and $13 million,” Corum said. “Not that I don’t know that’s true. But I think when they get there, they don’t actually get the money. That’s what I think – lies. I don’t know, I’m not there. But what I would tell high schoolers is come here, put in the work. You’re not going to get cash upfront. You come here and put in the work, you’ll make a good amount of cash.”