Corum Or Hart: Who Had The Better Michigan Career?

Blake Corum and Mike Hart were both fan favorites at Michigan, and the two share more than a handful of similarities.

Michigan running back Blake Corum (2), along with Rece Davis, celebrates the Wolverines' 34-13 win / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

In the pantheon of lenendary Michigan ball carriers, it would be difficult to unseat Mike Hart near the top of that list, but Blake Corum may have accomplished just that after his 2023 season. Last year, Corum famously rushed for 27 touchdowns en route to a National Championship all while receiving tutelage from Hart, who amassed a whopping 41 touchdowns in his own collegiate career from 2004-07.

But who smashed that mark this year, setting a new Michigan record in the process? Corum, of course, to the tune of 58 rushing touchdowns in his prolific Michigan career. 

Much like Hart, the most recent diminutive UM rusher checks in at 5-8 and that listing might be generous. Hart, on the other hand, was an inch shorter at 5-7, but height is far from a crucial indicator for running back talent. Instead, it’s just one of many similarities between the two players. 

Perhaps Hart’s rushing style rubbed off on Corum during their time in Ann Arbor together. Ask any longtime Michigan fan what they remember about Hart’s running style from the mid-2000s, and they’ll likely laud his patience and vision. Those qualities were hallmarks of Hart’s success, and they’ve crept into Corum’s highlight tape over the last several seasons as well.

For example, take Corum’s Rose Bowl-clinching touchdown run against Alabama in overtime. As Corum cut to the left and found his lane, the Michigan legend broke a tackle and spun around while maintaining his balance across the goal line for a touchdown. Corum, like Hart once did, showcased exceptional balance on the play, creating an iconic touchdown that is emblematic of Corum’s determination overall.

Blake the Great, as he was affectionately known, is also a noted workhorse in the weight room. Recently, Corum dominated the bench press at the 2024 NFL Combine with 27 reps, a number that tops Hart’s still-respectable 23 reps from 2008. 

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But Corum is not a carbon copy of his former coach. Far from it. Instead, Corum offers a bit more burst off the line, logging a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash to Hart’s 4.77. Those same longtime Michigan fans from earlier likely remember Hart’s tendency to be tracked down in open field in college. Check that box in Corum’s favor. 

From a pure volume standpoint, Hart shouldered the load at Michigan as the school’s all-time rushing leader with 1,015 attempts. Corum ranks sixth all-time with 675 rushing attempts as he largely split carries during his college career. 

In terms of pro potential, this is a category where the two could widely differ. After moving from Michigan to the NFL, Hart did not stick in the pros for long, logging 21 games over three seasons for the Indianapolis Colts. Corum, conversely, has been projected as a mid-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, Corum’s NFL career is yet to begin, but he offers a lot of promise and has the work ethic to stick around in the NFL for quite some time. 

But back at Michigan, both running backs offered leadership that the Wolverines thoroughly relied on during their stints in Ann Arbor. Hart famously galvanized the Wolverines against Michigan State and reinvigorated the heated in-state rivalry, and Corum, too, developed a penchant for delivering motivational sound bytes whenever within shouting reach of a microphone. 

Now, other Michigan legends such as Anthony Thomas and Tyrone Wheatley certainly deserve to be discussed when viewing UM running backs through a wider lens, but Hart and Corum are uniquely intertwined. Two similar stylistic backs with one sharing his personal tips and tricks to help develop his protege into a more effective member of the Wolverines’ offense. 

Corum and Hart: Michigan Men. 

How do the two legendary Michigan RBs compare in your eyes? Let us know and follow @EricJRutter on Twitter for more Wolverine Digest updates.