The Wolverine

December 2021

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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30 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2021 M ichigan football has had its share of great people come through the program over the years. Part of being a 'Michigan Man,' as coaches over the years have preached, is fulfilling a role off the field as well as on it. Freshman running back Blake Corum is the latest to take it to heart, and he's doing it while he's still in school. Corum used his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money earned through endorsements to donate 100 turkeys to needy families in Ypsilanti, just outside Ann Arbor. His "Giving Back 2 Give Thanks" event on Nov. 21 provided meals to several families in the Sycamore Meadows and Partridge Park complexes. Corum's father, James Corum, and teammate and linebacker Nikhai Hill- Green joined him to help distribute dur- ing the event created with local soccer club AFC Ann Arbor co-owner Bilal Saeed. The Detroit News reported the two met this summer through the CLR Academy, a sports sampling program that provides free sports equipment, snacks, books and mentorship in the Yp- silanti community. It was no coincidence that Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart's foun- dation also sponsors the CLR Academy, which held a camp at Sycamore Mead- ows this summer. "I'm just blown away by it, really," head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I know Blake and I know his dad, James. It's just phenomenal — phenomenal. I know Nikhai Hill-Green went along, as well. "I know them, and I know what kind of gesture that is. It's genuine, heartfelt. And my second impression was, 'Why wasn't I doing something like that?' I was just watching film all day. "That's an amazing young man." NCAA athletes have been able to profit from their name, image and likeness since July 1, and it's paid off not only for them, but others. In addition to Corum's donations, other organizations in the community matched them and also pro- vided other Thanksgiving-themed goods to be distributed, including milk, maca- roni and cheese, and mashed potatoes. In the regular season, Corum appeared in 10 games, rushed for 865 yards with 10 touchdowns, caught 20 passes for 137 yards and a score, and returned 12 kickoffs for 304 yards. He ranked 19th nationally with an average of 130.6 all- purpose yards per game. — Chris Balas DONOVAN EDWARDS EMERGES AS A RECEIVING THREAT All year, Michigan fans had been wait- ing for something special out of freshman running back Donovan Edwards. Their patience paid off Nov. 20 in Col- lege Park, Md. Edwards did his best im- pression of NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk in the second quarter of a 59-18 vic- tory at Maryland, catching eight passes for 64 yards — most of it underneath cov- erage — and high-stepping his way to 49 yards after the catch. He'd finish with 10 catches for 170 yards, including a long of 77 on a beauti- fully designed wheel route for a touch- down out of the backfield on which he cut back to the middle of the field and showed off his speed. "That's something we've seen in prac- tice ever since he got here," redshirt fresh- man quarterback Cade McNamara said after the game. "His elusiveness, his abil- ity to catch the ball is at a really high level   MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Blake Corum Gives Back With His NIL Money Corum used money made off of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) to buy and donate 100 tur- keys to needy families in Ypsilanti this Thanksgiving. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 2021 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time (ET)/TV Sept. 4 Western Michigan W, 47-14 Sept. 11 Washington W, 31-10 Sept. 18 Northern Illinois W, 63-10 Sept. 25 Rutgers W, 20-13 Oct. 2 at Wisconsin W, 38-17 Oct. 9 at Nebraska W, 32-29 Oct. 23 Northwestern W, 33-7 Oct. 30 at Michigan State L, 37-33 Nov. 6 Indiana W, 29-7 Nov. 13 at Penn State W, 21-17 Nov. 20 at Maryland W, 59-18 Nov. 27 Ohio State W, 42-27 Dec. 4 Big Ten Championship 8 p.m./FOX

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