ESPN Ranking College Football's Top 10 Running Backs
Corum #1:
Year: Senior
2022 stats: 1,463 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 80 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Points: 105 points (9 of 11 first-place votes)
Corum's return to the Wolverines carries some surprise following his All-America 2022 season and the praise he received. Jim Harbaugh said Corum is the best collegiate back he has coached, while Biff Poggi, who coached Corum both in high school and at Michigan, described him as having shades of both Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. A late-season knee injury derailed Corum's Heisman Trophy chances and ultimately brought him back for a final season with the Wolverines. If healthy, he will be the focal point of Michigan's offense alongside another back included here, Donovan Edwards.
A combination of power, shiftiness and speed propels Corum, a Doak Walker Award finalist who won the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football as Big Ten MVP. Last season, he finished 11th nationally in total rushing yards (1,463) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (18) despite essentially missing Michigan's final three games (he had two carries against Ohio State) and sharing carries with Edwards. Limited early by Michigan's lopsided nonconference wins, Corum bullied his way in Big Ten play, averaging 24.1 carries and 152.8 yards in the eight league games before his injury. The small-town kid from Virginia returns to the big stage this fall as he tries to become Michigan's first Heisman winner since Charles Woodson in 1997. -- Adam Rittenberg
Edwards #5
Year: Junior
2022 stats: 991 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 200 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
Points: 48
The "other" Michigan running back is a really good one, and he could continue to make his mark in his third season with the Wolverines. Edwards actually arrived as a more decorated recruit than Corum -- ESPN rated him as the No. 4 running back and No. 68 overall player in the 2021 class -- but has had to fall in line, first behind Corum and Hassan Haskins and then behind just Corum last season. But Edwards flashed in the No. 2 role, recording 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Michigan ran over Penn State. He also filled in admirably after Corum's injury, rushing for 520 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio State, Purdue (Big Ten championship game) and TCU (College Football playoff semifinal).
Edwards is Michigan's home run hitter and one of the nation's best. He had touchdown runs of 85 and 75 yards against Ohio State as Michigan pulled away in the fourth quarter. Edwards ranked fourth nationally in runs of 40 yards or longer with six, including four in his final three games as Michigan's primary ball carrier. His 7.1 yards-per-carry average last season ranked third in Michigan history. He's also a capable receiver, recording 38 receptions in his first two seasons. His usage will be interesting with Corum's return, but Edwards brings an explosiveness to Michigan's offense that should not be wasted in what could be his final season with the team. -- Rittenberg
Singleton from PSU #4
Allen from Wisconsin #6
April 25th, 2023 at 10:45 AM ^
Corum is The Chosen One ☝🏼
April 25th, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
I saw a list recently that listed Corum as the fourth or fifth best running back IN THE CONFERENCE. People be dumb.
(In fairness, the same list had Edwards as #1.)
April 25th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Didn't somebody mention in one of the B1G spring games threads that PSU fans were talking about how they have the best RB combo in the country?
April 25th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
To be fair, they have a good combo that will probably have them 9-0 or 8-1 when we play them. I'd put them at #2 in the conference and possibly country...behind our RBs.
With Franklin coaching its important to remember how much an offensive line can determine your backs success. They may be good in spite of the o line but its yet to be seen if the oline will be good as well.
April 25th, 2023 at 11:28 AM ^
....and those delusional joepa loving fans think they also have the best coach also....
ok, maybe the best artist, but not coach.
April 25th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Whoever made that list was either trolling (most likely) or didn't watch any B1G football last year
April 25th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Done for clicks no doubt, and probably try to "justify" it by saying it's uncertain how he will perform after surgery.
April 25th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
Blake the Great and The Don - the best RB duo at Michigan I've ever had the pleasure to watch (est. 1986).
April 25th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
I think that Biakabutuka (783 yds) and Wheatley (1144 yds) would have to be in the mix in 1994. Corum and Edwards have better numbers (in two more games).....damn, those were some good RB's.
My junior year. Those were fun days.
The Don stepping up to the feature back role and driving two daggers through the heart of Columbus with only one hand is one of those legendary moments in the rivalry that will be remembered for ages
April 25th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
I was prepared to get mad, but this is about exactly how I would've ranked the Michigan guys
Allen from Wisconsin at 6 might be right. He's the kind of strong, incisive back I love. Singleton has a lot more to prove. The breakaway speed is there, but we need to see more elusiveness, vision, balance, etc.
April 25th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Username checks out
April 25th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
The fake mustache didn't fool you?
April 25th, 2023 at 11:09 AM ^
Taylor Tatum take notice. Wolves don't concern themselves with....
April 25th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Should have ranked Edwards higher, he has (by far) the best passer rating of the listed rushers.
April 25th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
The RB room in Ann Arbor looks very nice, again - this year.
Hoping the depth chart gets a lot of game experience in September.
And - if I may make a "social" comment. Blake Corum appears to be an even better young man - responsible - supportive of the community - balanced - etc., than he is a football player.
Go Blue!
April 25th, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
Prediction:
For the 1st time in history - Blake, Donovan, and JJ end up TIED for 1st place Heisman voting.
They have no choice but to award THREE trophies. Vaulting Michigan to 2nd place all-time with 6 Heisman winners.
The combo of Corum/Edwards + Really Solid O-Line is going to be fun to watch. Hope to see some creativity to exploit teams that lean in against the run. Should be an enormously explosive offense.
Insane that we have both Corum and Edwards at the same time. I know the idea has been discussed to death here but I hope the coaches are spending all summer coming up with ways to have them both on the field simultaneously with Edwards catching passes and this doesn't become another year of Brian pulling his hair out while yelling "just throw it to Nico!!"
The continuity of Sherrone Moore makes me optimistic
Edwards is at least as good a receiver as he is a runner, and that's saying something. If he is not one of the features in the passing game every week during Big Ten play, it'll be criminal misuse.
This is another one of the steps forward Harbaugh has to take in his improvement as a coach. It's ridiculously obvious what needs to be done with Edwards -- Jim just has to be willing to do it consistently.
Would be nice to complement Corum and Edwards with a 3rd or 4th and one package. I know Blake can handle it, but would be nice to save him from 4 straight dives against Rutgers, for example.
Wonder if with our offensive line we could come up with a package like what the Eagles had last year with Jalen Hurts. Could we just get down low and push Orji over the line?