A man of many nicknames, Blake Corum recently earned a new one from college football broadcaster and former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III: ‘McThiccems.’ It’s a salute to Corum’s stout stature. He’s cool with it, he said, because RGIII’s “a funny dude," but Michigan's star running back is partial to ‘Blake the Great,’ or ‘Blake Scorum,’ or ‘Blake and Shake.’
“There’s some good ones out there,” he said Tuesday on the Stoney & Jansen Show.
‘Mr. Heisman’ might be next. The headliner of No. 3 Michigan is No. 1 on Griffin III's list of candidates, with “a couple more opportunities,” Corum said, “to put in some work.” The four finalists are announced Dec. 5. At this rate, Corum can probably go ahead and book a trip to New York City for the award ceremony Dec. 10.
“I speak it into existence, so I’m gonna say yeah, but I’m just ready for Illinois this week,” he said. “I’m ready for an opportunity to put up some numbers.”
The numbers already speak for themselves: the third most rushing yards (1,349) and the second most rushing touchdowns (17) in the country on a team that might be bound for the College Football Playoff. He could put the final stamp on his Heisman resume by carrying Michigan to a win over No. 2 Ohio State next week in Columbus. His family, anyway, is already loving the talk.
“Especially because they’ve seen all the work I’ve put in since I was young to get to where I am right now, so they’re just really proud of me," Corum said. "They’re loving it, but they’re also telling me to be where my feet are. Don’t look too far ahead. If it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen, so that’s the mindset I’m going with."
The last Michigan player to win the Heisman was Charles Woodson in 1997. The last running back to win it was Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015. For comparison’s sake, Henry had rushed for 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns through 10 games. He clinched the award by running roughshod over Auburn in the Iron Bowl and Florida in the SEC championship for 460 combined yards in his last two performances for voters. It’s all about timing: who shines when the lights are brightest?
This weekend, Corum is doing something bigger than chasing college football’s biggest award. For the second straight year, he’s using his Name, Image and Likeness money to fund a Thanksgiving turkey drive for families in need in the Ann Arbor area.
With the help of local charity groups, including the CLR Academy that's sponsored by Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart and where Corum has volunteered in the past, the second annual ‘Giving Back 2 Give Thanks’ drive will distribute a total of 300 turkeys and 300 gallons of milk – an increase of 100 each from last year – along with sides like mac and cheese and mashed potatoes at two locations Sunday afternoon: the Sycamore Meadows housing project in Superior Township and the Parkridge Community Center in Ypsilanti.
And like last year, Corum, who grew up facing his own obstacles in a small town in Virginia, will be going door to door to hand out the holiday helpings himself. The Heisman Hopeful will be the Touchdown Turkey, if only turkeys could fly.
“It’s going to be fun,” Corum said. “I get to knock on doors again, see if they want a turkey and just get involved in the community. See people smile, because I think Thanksgiving is a really important time of the year just to get with the family, get away from the real world and just enjoy. It’s going to be great, I’m super excited to get back out there.”
The event comes the day after what will likely be Corum’s final home game at Michigan. While he could return for another season, Corum has nothing left to prove. He’s a surefire NFL draft pick who looks ready to take the next step in his career. When he runs out of the tunnel at the Big House Saturday against Illinois, it will probably be for the last time.
“I’m not gonna lie, it has crossed my mind,” Corum said, noting he has to “sit down and really evaluate” his options before making a final decision.
“I do not have a decision and I don’t really know (yet),” he said. “I’m just going with the flow and, like I said, being where my feet are. Just stacking every opportunity that comes my way and at the end when everything is over with, I’ll sit back and really see what I want.”
That’s a question for the future. What Corum wants right now is clear: a few more wins and a couple more trophies, whether they bear his name or not.
“I think we’re honestly just getting started,” he said. “Someone asked me after (last week’s) game, does your body hurt? I’m like, ‘No, I could go a whole ‘nother season.’”
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