Two Michigan Wolverines land on ESPN's top 100 college football players list
ESPN.com came out with its ranking of the top 100 college football players ahead of the 2022 season, and two Michigan Wolverines checked in late in the list. Junior running back Blake Corum (No. 79) and senior cornerback DJ Turner (No. 86) were both featured.
Corum is projected to be Michigan’s top running back this fall, after rushing for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and an honorable mention nod from the media.
“As a sophomore last season, Corum ran for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns on 143 carries as the Wolverines won the school’s first Big Ten title since 2004 on the way to the College Football Playoff,” ESPN.com wrote. “With Hassan Haskins gone, Corum is Michigan’s undisputed top back.”
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Corum is up to 210 pounds on the Michigan roster and 212 pounds according to him last week. He’s maintained his speed, though, and has had a tremendous offseason.
“That’s what it just led to. I really wasn’t trying to — it kind of just happened,” he said. “I feel good at 212, around that weight. If anything, I feel faster. It doesn’t change my game at all. Maybe brings a little more power, a little more weight with it. But nothing, really.”
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Turner is a potential breakout star on the Michigan defense after impressing in the back half of last season. He made his first career start in October against Northwestern and quickly became the Wolverines’ best cornerback. He graded out as Michigan’s top cover man for the season, per Pro Football Focus, with an 83.3 rating. He yielded 26 receptions and 267 yards with two touchdowns on 59 targets down the field.
“Turner appeared in all 14 of Michigan’s games in 2021 — starting eight,” ESPN.com wrote. “He had 33 tackles to go with nine pass breakups and a pair of interceptions during his junior year. Turner, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, recorded a career-high [eight] tackles in the Wolverines’ 42-27 victory over Ohio State.”
Michigan co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale said that Turner got off to a slow start in the spring, but he picked up his game later on. Now, he’s having a great fall camp.
“DJ, in camp so far, has really, really, really been impressive to me in certain situations, so I want to see him continue to grow as well,” Clinkscale said in mid August.
