Blake Corum, Michigan Wolverines Running Back

Is there something really absurd that skews you out? Getting a paper cut on my eyeball? A fear you can't shake? I'm gonna leak ocular fluid on my cheeks.

It's gonna go into my mouth and I will perish. Whatever scares you, I wanna talk about it. Join me, Larry Mullins, on my new podcast, Your Weirdest Fears. Listen and subscribe to Your Weirdest Fears on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast from.

And do we mention it's all free? Download the Odyssey app today. Blake, appreciate you coming back on the show. How you been? I've been great, man. I appreciate you having me.

I'm just blessed. Well, last time we had you on, you had that five touchdown performance against UConn. And that was back in middle of September to go to 3-0. And at that time, you said you thought this Michigan team this year is better than the team last year that got to the college football playoff. How do you still feel about this team with what you've been able to prove so far now in November?

You know, I'm still a man of my word. I still believe this team is definitely better than last year's team. You know, I believe that this time last year, we were probably 8-1.

You know, so I definitely believe this team is better. And I think the sky's the limit for this team, honestly. How do you guys keep your focus? Because it seems like for the last five, six weeks, it's all been about the inevitable talk of Ohio State and Michigan both being undefeated at the end of the year. You know, the way we stay focused is really just treating each game like a championship game. You know, we don't look too far ahead, you know, because even though that's easy to do, right, you know, we take each other a week, you know, we go day by day, you know, we prepare the same. And then you just keep taking each game like a championship game. So I feel like that's how we attack each week and each team we play. Individually, I know you're really focused on the team, but you're getting more carries this year. How do you think, for you, obviously, this season has gone, has it been better than what you expected individually, or is this what you kind of expected to do? You know, this is kind of what I expected to do. You know, I knew I put in a good amount of work this off-season, you know, I looked at the film last year and just studied myself, see where I could get better, and then try to attack those things off-season for a great year, and which I'm having.

So, you know, I was kind of expected this, right, just because, you know, I feel like I'm a confident guy. But, you know, like I said, I'm blessed to be here, and it's been an amazing ride so far. What's been the highlight for you this season, in your opinion, Blake Korn? The highlight is really just 9-0 winning. And you can say that was the highlight last year, because we won a lot as well, but, you know, something just seems a little different. You know, when you win each week, that's the highlight of your week. You know, if you lose, you know, you're going to have an awful week. You know, there's nothing worse than losing, in my opinion.

Though you can learn from losing, you can also learn from winning. So, you know, the highlight of my year so far is honestly just winning each week and, you know, playing good football with my teammates. I'm not saying last year you guys weren't confident, but you still had to prove that you guys could get to a college football playoff, that you could win a Big Ten championship. I know there's been a lot of changes this year, but would you say this is a more confident team this season? Yeah, I think we honestly just built off of what we did last year. I think last year was a great start. You know, we had a lot of guys returning, and we kind of just picked right where we left off at. You know, and so I do believe, you know, this team is more confident in the work we put in, the work we put out on Saturday.

And so I would definitely agree with you and say this team has become more confident than Team 142. What did it mean to you the other day when Coach Jim Harbaugh said that you could be as good as Frank Gore and we know the career that he did go on to have in the NFL? You know, when Coach Harbaugh, you know, who is a legend himself, compares me to a legend like Frank Gore, you know, I know a lot about him, but the smile of the year, you know, it's an honor to even let Coach recognize me as, you know, someone with a talent or can be as good as Frank Gore or better. So when he said those words, it honestly meant a lot to me, you know, and it actually made me want to go harder, you know, and really just realize how he views me, you know, and like I said, you know, it meant a lot, you know, it was an honor. Have you seen the graphic where they compared you to previous Heisman Trophy winners that they showed during the game?

Because going into that game against Rutgers, you were having a better year than Derek Henry, Mark Ingram, and Reggie Bush. Yeah, yeah, I did an interview a little earlier today and he said he showed me that picture, but, you know, when I saw that, you know, it's kind of like, you know, Coach Harbaugh comparing me to Frank Gore, you know, just seeing, you know, myself next to, like you said, the legend like Derek Henry, you know, Mark Ingram, you know, and the great Reggie Bush, just to be mentioned with those guys as of right now, means a lot, you know, and it means a lot. I feel like myself, I think it means a lot to my team, you know, because we put in a lot of work here in Michigan, so like I said, just to be mentioned means a lot to me. It also shows you that the hard work that you've put in has been worth it, because I remember when you joined us last, you shared that your parents would drive you two hours to high school and then two hours back, just so you could go to a bigger high school. Well, most definitely, yeah. It definitely shows all the work, you know, I've put in and continue to put in. You know, I've had a blessed journey, and it's been amazing so far. If you had to state your case for the Heisman Blake Corum, because we've been leading the Corum charge since early October for you to win the award, what would you say to the voters?

You know, go with your gut. You know, I don't like begging people to vote for me, right? You know, I just say, you know, watch the film, you know, just watch Michigan, watch my team, just look at the work we're putting in. And, you know, like I just tell everyone else, like, you know, if I get invited to New York, it will be an honor. You know, if I win, even more of an honor. But as of right now, I'm honestly like, not even looking too far ahead at it. You know, I believe everything happens for a reason. So, you know, at the end of the season, if I'm blessed to be in the conversation still and go to New York, vote for your guy.

When you, other than that, you know, I'm just going to keep working. When you elected to attend Michigan, if I would have told you that you could be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, would you have ever believed that? I would have believed you. But, you know, I wouldn't let it go into my head, right? You know, I would have still, you know, been the same dude. I would have still put in the same amount of work that I've put in since I got here. But, you know, if you would have told me that you would have been in the Heisman conversation, I would have definitely believed you just because, you know, I believe in myself and the work I put in.

So, I must say, I would have believed you. What do you see in from your quarterback in J.J. McCarthy right now? You know, I see someone that's, you know, calm, cool, and collected all stages of the game, you know, as a quarterback. He's calm in the pocket. You know, if the pocket collapses, he's able to run. You know, he's able to throw the B-ball.

He's able to check it down. You know, he's become a field general. And I see each week how he improves at the quarterback position.

So, you know, I expect nothing less than from J.J. He's a great quarterback, you know, and I just continue to see him get better each week. When it comes to your coach and Jim Harbaugh, he interviewed for the Vikings' job. When you go back to last offseason and he didn't get it, how did he address that with the team just wondering?

You know, he addressed it basically saying, you know, he entertained it, but, you know, he beat down a side. You know, he didn't want to leave. And, you know, he came back and he was the same dude. One thing about Coach Harbaugh, he's always consistent. So, you know what you're going to get from him. And that's why I like playing for, you know, love playing for Coach Harbaugh, just because I know what I'm going to get from him. So, that's how he adjusted the team. He basically said, like, let's work, you know, let's work.

And let's have a great year. I know that he said this was not going to be a reoccurring thing each and every year where he'd be dipping his toes in the NFL water. Do you believe him?

Because, you know, those rumors are going to start back up in a month, you know? You know, I believe Coach Harbaugh is a man of his word, and I do believe him, and I believe, you know, he loves Michigan as, you know, he's an alumni. You know, he went here to do big things here. So, I don't see him leaving any time soon. I don't think he'll dip his toes back in the water. I think he's always been a Michigan man, and I don't think he wants to go anywhere else, but, you know, Coach with the University of Michigan. So, you know, I don't see him trying to go get another job. You know, I think he loves it here. I think he loves the players.

And, you know, he loves being a Wolverine. Is this your last season at Michigan Boy Corps? You know, I haven't even thought about it, honestly. You know, I'm just kind of focused on chasing these goals, you know? You know, we have a lot of goals ahead. You know, we are a cross one out beating Michigan State, but, you know, we have goals ahead that I need to worry about first before I even think about, you know, whether I'm going. We're coming back. So, you know, you might have to ask me that question at the end of the year, but as of right now, you know, I'm coming back.

But I haven't even thought about going to the next level yet. Wrapping up with Blake Corum. They're about to release the top 25 in the latest college football playoff rankings. Last week, they had Ohio State in at two, and they had you guys at five. What do you say to people that are skeptical if Michigan can and will beat Ohio State once again this year?

You know, I just say, you know, either turn the TV on when it's time or come to the game and watch. You know, it's going to be a great game. It's going to be a game to determine which team, you know, goes. You know, but before we get there, we have to take care of Nebraska. We have to take care of Illinois. You know, and those are two great teams.

So, you know, when the time comes, we shall see. Growing up as a kid, who were some of the NFL players that you really did admire? Growing up, you know, not necessarily growing up, but one of my favorite players just from watching YouTube and stuff, and I watch him before every game, is Brian Dawkins.

I mean, this is the way he attacked the game, you know, weapon heck. He was ferocious on the field. So, to this day, I still watch videos of him before every game I play. I really like Brian Dawkins. You know, I like Marshawn Lynch. You know, I loved watching him. And then, you know, I watch a lot of Barry Sanders on YouTube.

You know, I wish I was able, you know, to watch him growing up, but I watch a ton of Barry Sanders, and I think he's the best running back ever. So, you know, those are the kind of guys I watch, you know, whether it be, you know, on the field or on YouTube. Was there a guy this year, as you've gotten a lot of notoriety and a lot of praise for your play that has reached out to you, whether it was Twitter, they got your number, they were like, holy crap, I can't believe this guy is texting or tweeting me. Any guy I can think of? Now, I've definitely got a lot of follows, you know, from former, you know, players, whether they play in the league or whatnot.

Monte Ball hit me up on IG. I can't think of some, but I do believe, you know, some players have, you know, reached out and said, you know, keep growing. You know, you're having one hell of a season, so. There's definitely been a couple of players. I just can't. It doesn't ring a bell right now.

Two more before we let Blake Corum run. When it gets into the topic of college football playoff expansion, where do you lie on that? Do you have a thought on that? You know, I don't have a thought on it. I kind of like it the way it is, honestly. You know, we could make it bigger, right? We could. You know, I honestly don't know what that would look like.

But as of right now, you know, I'm fine. I'm fine with having, you know, just four teams in it. Because I feel like it makes it harder. You know, it makes it harder. You really have to have a perfect season almost, you know, because it's hard winning. It's hard winning a football game, so you really have to have a perfect season if you want to be, you know, in that top four at the end of the season.

But, you know, I would be open to it, right? More teams in it, but I got to see what that looks like first. Well, the talks been 12 teams in 2026, maybe even sooner. I've been saying this all throughout the show, Blake Corum, 12 seems like it's just too much, because then it takes away, even though your game will always be important against Ohio State. That's a literally win or die, do-or-die type of game.

And I just don't want to see the importance of that game really ruined. Right, right. Yeah. Like you say, you know, it does come down to that last game quite often, right? You know, so, like I said, you know, I like where it is right now. You know, just having those four teams, because it makes it hard. And I feel like we, you know, it was a 12-team, comfortable playoff, you know, making it easier on people's schedules, you know? But we'll see, you know. It seems like they're going to end up going today anyway.

But we'll see in a couple years. Last thing I ask you, when it comes to this team this year, what do you want someone to know about this team that maybe it's not obvious to the outside person on this Michigan Wolverine squad? It might be obvious, but it might not, you know, but just how much each player loves each other. You know, this is honestly, you know, team 143.

Team 142 was, too, but team 143 is a little something different. In the brotherhood that we have, within Shimbek, Little Hall, that we take onto the game each Saturday, you know, we play for each other. And it's something that, like, you know, we can't be separated. So, you know, we put in a lot of work together, you know, blessed wedding tears, you know. And if you can't tell, you know, how much just we love each other, it's amazing, you know. And I think that's, like, honestly the number one thing in a while we're having a great season right now just because of the love we have for each other and how much we want to play for each other. By the way, college football playoff ranking, they have Ohio State 2, Michigan 3 right now.

Mm-hmm. I kind of figured that, you know, you know, we got to take care of Nebraska, get to take care of Illinois, and that last game, you know, it's going to be one everyone will remember. Well, we appreciate the time. Thanks so much. Always loving you. Join us, and good luck the rest of the way.

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