Top three landing spots for former Michigan running back Blake Corum in the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft is just a few short weeks away, and the running back class is still being overlooked. Yes, there isn't a single Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs like 2023, but there are several strong day two prospects. Blake Corum, RB Michigan is one of them. Corum is fresh off a 2023 National […]
The 2024 NFL Draft is just a few short weeks away, and the running back class is still being overlooked. Yes, there isn't a single Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs like 2023, but there are several strong day two prospects. Blake Corum, RB Michigan is one of them.
Corum is fresh off a 2023 National Championship, 27 rushing touchdowns, over 1300 yards from scrimmage, and it wasn't even his best career season. After recovering from an injury that robbed him of a special ending to the 2022 college football season Corum's elusiveness was a bit lacking last fall.
However, once he had a month off in December to get his body right for the first time in over a year he dominated during the College Football Playoffs. 217 rushing yards. Seven missed tackles forced. Three of his breakaway runs. If we get 2023 playoffs and 2022 season Corum moving forward he's likely to have a successful NFL career.
But where would he have the most success? And where will he likely land in the 2024 NFL Draft? Let's dive in.
Los Angeles Chargers
The most obvious and natural fit for Corum would be with the Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh (his college coach at Michigan) will be installing an almost identical running game and offensive system in Los Angeles. The team has two day two picks (37 and 69). And the team has a significant running back need since their only real proven back is 29-year-old Gus Edwards.
Based on the last 150+ mock drafts the Chargers are the most common landing spot, and it's not just the coaching connection that makes it possible. There are currently zero running backs expected to be top 50 picks, so if the Chargers wanted to guarantee that they acquire Corum, pick 37 would certainly do it. But even if they waited until 69 there's a great chance the running back run still would not have begun.
With multiple picks ahead of Corum's expected draft range, the coaching fit, and scheme fit, Corum should be a Los Angeles Charger soon. Betting markets certainly agree as well, having him as the current favorite with more than a 12% shot of being selected by the Chargers.
Dallas Cowboys
If Corum doesn't land with the Chargers, the Cowboys could certainly make sense. Why? The Cowboys operate one of the most complex, unpredictable run schemes in all of football. Corum is used to that since Michigan was also one of the most diverse rushing attacks in all of college football last season.
Sam Hoppen, one of the best football data scientists out there, outlined the Cowboy's success rate and schematic complexity using a spatial entropy model to detect blocking scheme variance in the post below:
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer's system utilizes inside zone, duo, power, counter and other concepts to constantly keep defenses guessing. Corum would fit this type of rushing attack perfectly.
Cincinnati Bengals
Last, but not least, the Bengals are both in dire need of running back help and run a heavy amount of duo, trap, and inside zone where Corum found immense success at Michigan.
The Bengals did bring in Zack Moss, and they do return Chase Brown, but they also own three picks between 49 and 97. The chalk positional selection for them is tight end at 49 as of this writing, but they could easily begin the "run" on running back there instead.
Running game coordinator Frank Pollack loves tough inside running backs with a nose for the end zone too. He would love to feature Corum in the Bengals offense.
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