Blake Corum is Michigan's weapon at the goal line: 'He fears nothing'

Michigan Wolverines football won’t need to run a ‘Philly Special’ on 4th and goal from the 2-yard line in this year’s College Football Playoff matchup against Alabama.

The Wolverines have a go-to call at the goal line: handing the ball off to senior running back Blake Corum. Zone blocking, gap scheme, inside, outside — it hasn’t really mattered. Corum will find the end zone way more times than not. The Wolverines have been willing to get creative in the red zone at times, but it hasn’t had to all that much because Corum gets them on the scoreboard before they have to.

Corum has 25 rushes from the opponent’s 5-yard line or closer, and 18 have gone for touchdowns. That, of course, leads the nation, 8 scores ahead of No. 2, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner who had 10 touchdowns on 22 attempts from the 5-yard line and in.

Corum has a single-season program record 24 rushing touchdowns on the season, also leading the country. But taking away everything except his goal-line scores, he’d still rank second in the country in rushing touchdowns. That’s how good he’s been, and that’s how much of his success has come in those critical situations when Michigan is on the verge of scoring. Those four-point swings — the difference between a touchdown and a chip-shot field goal — can change the complexion of a game.

“Up front, the guys do a great job blocking the plays, but his innate ability to find the holes that no one else sees,” Michigan offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore said. “He’s just so strong. It’s been well-documented — he’s been one of the strongest dudes on the team. That’s when you need that strength to show up.

“You watch him and his legs never stop moving. Sometimes, it’s hard to find him because he’s so short, but he’s not small. He’s all of 215, 220 pounds, and there’s not a lot of fat on there. It comes at you fast, it comes at you violently and it’s hard to stop. I think that’s what makes him special.”

Famously, Corum was photographed with blood dripping down his face after he scored 2 touchdowns, including 1 at the goal line, in Michigan’s 24-15 win over Penn State Nov. 11. That snapshot encapsulates who the Marshall, Va., native is, Moore said.

“He fears nothing,” Moore stated. “Everybody has seen the picture with blood. I think that thing that pops out every day. Every game he comes out with a bloody nose and I’m like,’ I don’t know what goes on. How did that happen?’ He just keeps going. He’s a special player.”

Moore said that the 5-foot-8, 213-pound Corum sets the tone for the entire Michigan team. His leadership as a captain and star player who chose to return for his senior season has been invaluable.

“He’s been like that since he’s been here,” Moore explained. “When he was a freshman, we had to tell him to stop working out so much because it was tearing his body down. It’s not a surprise that he won [Michigan’s ‘Blue Collar’ award]. He walks in the building and sets the tone.

“The way he carries himself, what he does … I’ve told this to people before, if one of my daughters came home with Blake Corum, I’d be extremely happy — a kid like Blake Corum, I’d be super happy. Those are the type of kids you want in your program. Those are the type of kids you want to be around all the time. Obviously, he’s the type of player you want.”

Donovan Edwards has pep in his step ahead of Rose Bowl

Michigan will need junior running back Donovan Edwards to play a key role in the Rose Bowl, as well. Coming off hand and knee injuries suffered in 2022, Edwards hasn’t been as efficient this season as he was in the past, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry. He’s caught 40 passes for 249 yards, though, still a weapon with his versatility.

“He’s steadily improving, steadily getting better,” Moore said of Edwards. “He did a great job for us. I told him today, ‘Man, you’ve got a little pep in your step.'”

The positivity Edwards has carried throughout the entire season has been obvious, and impressive, to anyone who’s watched. Moore called it “selfless” that Edwards saw Corum thrive as one of the top backs in the country and senior wide receiver Roman Wilson catch 10 touchdowns while still remaining upbeat and content with his role.

“At no point did he complain, did he sulk,” Moore said. “That’s just Donovan Edwards. That’s just the team, that’s just how the whole unit is and that’s why we are where we are right now.

“He has a tremendous career ahead of him. and I think he’s going to continue to get better and better and continue to create explosive plays and do things for us and continue to help us win.”