The 2024 NFL Draft class is chock full of talented options on offense. From quarterbacks to wide receivers to offensive tackles, it's a great group for teams looking to find a cornerstone piece at any of those positions.
What this class is lacking is high-end running backs. The position's value has taken a hit in the NFL, with clubs unwilling to spend top dollar — and, usually, high-end draft capital — on RBs. Either way, the talent in the 2024 draft class is not nearly as deep as years past.
That's not to say that there aren't any solid running backs in this draft. There are a couple of standout runners who could help contribute to any offense in the NFL, and one of the most notable is Michigan star Blake Corum.
Corum is coming off a 2023 season where he set a Michigan school record for rushing TDs in a season (27) while also breaking the school's all-time record for career rushing scores (58). He was an integral part of the team's run-heavy offense, resulting in a national championship being brought back to Ann Arbor.
He may not be one of the first names taken off the board, but Corum certainly will be one of the first running backs selected.
What is an NFL team getting in Corum? Here's a look at stats and the best NFL comparisons for the Michigan star.
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Blake Corum NFL Draft scouting report
If an NFL team is looking for an explosive runner who breaks away from defenders or a power back capable of bulldozing defenders, Corum isn't it.
However, what the Michigan back does bring to the table is a calculated approach to the run game. Corum is highly intelligent and has excellent vision with the ball. He is patient behind his blockers, allowing the gaps to open up rather than creating alleyways himself.
He plays a tough, gritty style, and his lower center of gravity makes him harder to bring down than expected. Corum's agility and quickness also can be a pain for defenders, as he has proven an ability to extend plays an extra yard or two.
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Blake Corum stats
Corum enrolled at Michigan ahead of the 2020 season. He saw action in just six games as a freshman before taking on a bigger role in 2021.
As a sophomore, Corum wasted no time enjoying a breakout campaign. A stellar start to the season helped him grab a hold of the starting job, which he never relinquished. He finished the 2021 season with 952 rushing yards.
Corum took another step forward in 2022. The Wolverines running back racked up 1,463 yards, an impressive mark that would have been even greater had he not suffered a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in late November. He finished seventh in Heisman voting that season.
He returned in 2023 for his senior season, and it paid off. Corum helped the Wolverines win a national championship, knocking off Washington in the CFP championship to finish the undefeated season. Corum accounted for 27 rushing touchdowns, setting the school's single-season record and helping add to his career total of 58, which also set a Michigan record.
| Season | Games | Rush Attempts | Yards | TDs |
| 2020 | 6 | 26 | 77 | 2 |
| 2021 | 12 | 144 | 952 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 | 247 | 1,463 | 18 |
| 2023 | 15 | 258 | 1,245 | 27 |
While not used as frequently as other backs, Corum was a factor in the passing game at Michigan, as well. He finished with at least 10 catches in his last three seasons in Ann Arbor, including a receiving TD in each of his sophomore, junior, and senior years.
| Season | Games | Receptions | Yards | TDs |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | 73 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 24 | 141 | 1 |
| 2022 | 12 | 11 | 80 | 1 |
| 2023 | 15 | 16 | 117 | 1 |
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Blake Corum NFL comparison
Devin Singletary
One of the names brought up frequently when discussing Corum has been Devin Singletary. The former Bills and Texans running back is set to start the 2024 season with the Giants, and while he's never been a true No. 1 RB for an entire season, he impressed as a workhorse for Houston in the latter half of 2023.
This is what NFL Films' Greg Cosell had to say about the Corum comparisons:
"He's a fun watch. Corum to me, knows how to run. He has a great feel for understanding his blocking scheme, understanding how gaps change when the ball snaps, understanding defensive flow ... He has a great natural feel for all that, he's just not particularly athletic when it comes to running the football. But he just knows how to run. Two guys popped into my head…Devin Singletary and Kyren Williams."
Corum and Singletary both have similar builds. Corum is listed at 5-8, 214 pounds, and Singletary is 5-7, 203 pounds. The two aren't the most explosive running backs, but carry a high IQ in the run game that allows them to be effective.
Kyren Williams
Cosell and others have also mentioned Kyren Williams as a comp for Corum, and it's easy to see why. The Rams star was just a third-round pick in 2021 by Los Angeles after a strong career at Notre Dame, but he was one of the most effective backs in the league last season.
He's another smaller back who doesn't possess breakaway speed, but he finds the gaps needed to gain extra yardage. Williams, listed at 5-9, is slightly taller than Corum, but he's not as heavy, coming in at 194 pounds.
Here is more on what Cossel said about Williams and Corum:
"Is there a comparison to Kyren Williams, who became the Rams' feature back in 2023, carrying the ball more than 220 times? Williams does not possess the kind of high-level running traits you normally want in your feature back just as Corum does not possess them. Corum will be team- and scheme-specific in how he can be best deployed at the next level."
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Blake Corum NFL mock draft
Mock draft projection: No. 66 overall
Sporting News' 7-round mock draft has Corum being selected 66th overall by the Cardinals in the third round.
Arizona has James Conner as its No. 1 running back, but injuries and workload are starting to pile up for the veteran. If the Cardinals were to select Corum, it would give the team a complementary tandem to work out of the backfield.
This is what SN's Vinnie Iyer had to say about his projection of Corum to the Cardinals.
"The Cardinals need to add a change-of-pace and sneaky receiving option to their backfield to support James Conner. Corum can thrive in that role in their system."
