Blake Corum Shares He Is 'Stronger Than Ever' And 'Faster Than Ever'

The Michigan senior is back for his final year in Ann Arbor. He hopes to end it with a bang and win a national championship with the Wolverines.

Blake Corum is back for his senior season at Michigan. It may have surprised some people when he told Rich Eisen he would be back in Ann Arbor. After all, he was a Heisman contender in 2022. Corum rushed for 1,463 yards and scored 18 times on the ground in '22.

Corum had the stats to enter the NFL draft, but Corum came back for a couple of reasons. He went down against Illinois with a knee injury that sidelined him the rest of 2022, so he doesn't want to end his Michigan career on that note, and the other -- he wants to win a national championship with Michigan. 

Corum has been rehabilitating his knee to get back to 100% before the season. The senior back went onto The 33rd Team to give an update. He says that he will be ready when fall camp starts on August 2. 

“When August 2nd comes around, we’ll see what the trainers and the coaches have to say, but it’ll probably be a gradual build-up,” Corum said on The 33rd Team. “They’re not going to just throw me right in the fire and say, ‘Alright, let’s do some Oklahomas.’ But best believe we’ll start on August 2nd, but by September 2nd, I’ll be ready to roll."

Is he 100% yet? Not quite, but Corum is as close to 100% as it gets. He says he is feeling well and he thinks he will become 100% when camp rolls around. 

"I’ve been up to a lot," said Corum. "I’ve been working really hard on getting back. I’m finally back. Am I close to 100%? Heck yeah. I feel like I’m about 98%. That last 2% is going to come in camp, but I’m feeling great.”

The Heisman-contending back believes that 2% will come back suiting up, putting the helmet on, and feeling contact again. Sometimes after suffering an injury like Corum faced, players need to feel the contact of football. 

“What does that last 2% consist of," Corum asks. "It’s really about getting out there and putting the pads on, putting the helmet on, feeling some contact,” Corum said. “I’ll say that’s the last 2%"

One thing that will put a smile on the faces of Michigan fans is Corum says he is stronger and faster than before. He bulked up some and he says Michigan is getting the old Blake back -- plus more. 

“But other than that, I’m feeling stronger than ever," stated Corum. "I’m stronger than ever, I bulked up a little bit, but it’s that good weight. I’m feeling fast — faster than ever. It’s the old Blake, plus some. That’s what everyone’s going to get back. It’s the old Blake, plus some.”

Michigan and Blake Corum will suit up on September 2 against East Carolina at Noon ET.