Michigan running back Blake Corum said Thursday that he has been cleared to play football this fall.
The star back hedged his comments a bit but he feels the left knee is recovered from surgery and expects to be on the field when the Wolverines host East Carolina on Sept. 2.
“I had a doctor’s appointment the other day, and I believe he cleared me,” Corum said at Big Ten media days at Indianapolis. “I might have to double-check to make sure that was the last appointment, but I’m cleared.
“But I think I’m good. Now it’s just being smart, going into camp and doing whatever I have to do to make sure this team is in the best position to win and attack the season.”
Corum rushed for 1.463 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He injured the knee against Illinois on Nov. 19 and effectively missed three games. He badly tore the meniscus, sprained the MCL and sustained a bone bruise.
Corum tried to play with a brace against Ohio State the next week and was done after two carries. He later missed the Big Ten championship game victory against Purdue and the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to TCU.
Corum rushed for 108 yards against Illinois for his eighth straight 100-yard outing. His season high was 243 against Maryland on Sept. 24.
After finishing seventh in Heisman Trophy balloting, Corum considered leaving for the NFL. But he decided to return and focus on getting the knee back to full strength before the 2023 college football season commences.
He said he recently reached the point where he knew the knee was no longer an issue.
“A couple weeks ago, that’s when I realized that most of my speed was coming back,” Corum said. “And then I started feeling the burst. There was definitely a point in time where I was like, ‘OK, I like where this is heading.'”
The Michigan backfield is loaded with Donovan Edwards also back in the fold. Edwards rushed for 991 yards and seven scores last season.
Edwards became the bell cow back after Corum’s injury and gained 520 yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries over the final three games.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh expects big seasons from both players. He’s especially happy that Corum will be ready to go.
“I think Blake’s in a great place,” Harbaugh said Thursday in Indianapolis. “Everything he thought of, everything he visualized in terms of where he would be right now. He’s well trained, well thought out, and he’s in a great place.”
–Field Level Media
