ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If anyone knows anything about running the ball, it’s Michigan football running back Blake Corum.
Corum was considered a Heisman Trophy contender before his untimely injury in Week 12 last year, but he’s returning to the team healthy and excited about his opportunity to resume what he was doing a year ago. But he won’t have to do it alone.
All offseason, we haven’t really heard much about the running backs outside of Corum and his fellow star Donovan Edwards. But Corum changed all of that on Thursday when he gave a thorough evaluation of every running back on the team, including the freshmen and walk-ons.
“It’s hard to pick and choose because they’ve all shown a lot,” Corum said. “I’ll start with (Tavierre Dunlap). Tavi’s come along way, he’s shown a lot to me this camp. He’s gotten rid of some bad habits and replaced them with some good ones.
“Leon Franklin, he’s consistent. He’s a consistent runner. He finds the holes real well.
“C.J. Stokes, he has that breakaway speed. He can be elusive.
“Ben Hall, man — Ben Hall, I like him a lot. His attention to detail and his willingness to learn, wants to learn, always is on time. I have a couple of (evenings) here and he’s watching the film. ‘How can I get better? What can I do?’ He’s gonna he’s gonna be a great running back for Michigan. I’m excited to see where he goes down the line.
“Cole Cabana, he showed a lot, showed a lot. He has great receiving hands. Great asset out of the backfield.
“Then Henry Donohue — Hen-Do! He’s been running downhill.
“Kalel — Kalel got in the game a little bit last year. Bigger back, carries a lot of power, but he carries a lot of speed. Great running back in high school as well. So I’ve been impressed with him.
“And then Donovan. You know what Donovan can do, and he has been doing it during camp. And then I feel good myself. I think that’s everyone. Oh! Bryson (Kuzdzal)! Bryson, he’s come a long way. He’s been practicing pretty well these last couple of days. He didn’t get the opportunity to begin the camp but I’m impressed. I like what I see from him. I like what I see.
“So overall, all the running backs are doing great. No one has stood out — I mean, no one has stood out, but everyone has stood out, if you know what I’m saying. I like the running back room we have, Coach Hart does a wonderful job at coaching us, keeping us all together. I’m blessed to be a part of that running back room.”
What 2022 showed is that the Wolverines will need more tailbacks than just Corum and Edwards — as talented as they may be. Because, as it was in the Illinois game last year, when both were unavailable due to injury, other players had to step up. The maize and blue are looking for some of the other talent in the room to take that next step entering 2023, if for no other reason than to break glass in case of emergency.
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