The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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I love the community; I love interacting with everyone. "So … this was a tough decision — a business decision — [but] I think I have unfinished business. I didn't like the way I went out in the Big House. I don't like people remembering me being hurt. So, I will be coming back for it all next year … coming back for it all." A legit Heisman candidate this year af- ter carrying for 1,463 yards and 18 rush- ing touchdowns, Corum was one of the frontrunners to win the award before his injury. He finished seventh in the balloting but still won the Chicago Tribune's Silver Football Trophy as the Big Ten's MVP, and he should be a favorite for the Heisman in 2023. Corum made it clear with Eisen he has some personal goals, but that it's the team he's thinking about first. He wants to win a national championship, and he feels they'll have the team to do it. He later insisted he's working on guys like guards Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter to join him in coming back to form what should be another outstanding team and the prob- able 2023 Big Ten favorite. He watched them and the rest of his teammates closely after his injury — not in regret, but in awe of what they were able to accomplish "working together." "I will be back at the University of Michigan ready to excel and just do ev- erything we've been doing, but really to just finish it all," he said. "We're so close, and I believe in my teammates. I believe in the new team, Team 144. It's going to be a beautiful thing. "It's going to take a bunch of work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I'm ready to run it back. I'm ready to continue to be in the community. … I'm going to get my degree and leave my legacy." Corum will undoubtedly be a Michigan captain, having epitomized everything the program stands for, head coach Jim Har- baugh has said repeatedly. He models his parents in life but former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Barry Sanders on the field, using his stopping and starting ability, in- credible feet, and toughness to become one of the nation's top backs. He's also developed into a great leader. He sought out sophomore J.J. McCarthy after the quarterback's 2-interception game against TCU and helped ease his pain, noting it was a team loss, not just his. Corum has already made great prog- ress in his rehab through mid-January, and he should be as good as new by summer. "I'm feeling great, honestly," he said. "… I was actually out in California for two weeks doing rehab. I'm still on the crutches, but I'll be off them this week and ready to attack everything." Though he insisted his decision wasn't tied to Harbaugh's potential return — the coach had been interviewing with NFL teams in early January — Corum reported Harbaugh was understandably thrilled his running back decided to come back. Asked for a prediction on the 2023 sea- son, Corum responded with great enthu- siasm and optimism. "It's going to be full of success for the University of Michigan," he said. "We're going to grind our butts off, attack this offseason, and we're going to repeat it. We have unfinished business, like I said, and we'll finish it off in 2023. "I'm excited for the Michigan fans lis- tening. I'm going to give you everything I have. I'm going to attack this rehab and come back better than ever. I can't wait to see you guys in the fall." ❏ CORUM'S CAREER RUSHING STATS Year GP/GS Att. Yds. Avg. TD 2020 6/1 26 77 3.0 2 2021 12/0 143 952 6.7 11 2022 12/12 247 1,463 5.9 18 Total 30/13 417 2,492 6.0 31 FEBRUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 27