Michigan Football: 4-star RB Blake Corum is a key addition to 2020 class

Michigan football got its ninth commitment in recent days Thursday, as four-star running back Blake Corum from Maryland, announced his pledge to UM.

The Michigan football program has added a bunch of talented recruits in the last few days and Thursday, the Wolverines added another with the commitment of four-star running back Blake Corum.

Corum, who announced his decision on Twitter, is ranked as the 17th-best running back in the nation according to the 247 sports composite rankings, as well as No. 202 overall. He is also ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the state of Maryland.

Corum is technically the second running back to commit to Michigan football in the 2020 recruiting class, however, the other is three-star Gaige Garcia, who is also wrestling for UM. Corum, a top-20 back nationally, is an entirely different animal and will add depth at a position of need.

It’s not like the Wolverines are in a desperate situation at running back, but after Tru Wilson graduates, the only scholarship players at the position will be Christian Turner, Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins. Ben Mason could also see more time in the future if needed but he seems to be settling in at defensive end.

As far as Corum is concerned, he visited Michigan football over the weekend as part of a huge recruiting weekend for the Wolverines. Jim Harbaugh and his staff hosted over 20 targets and had gotten eight commitments from those players and now nine with Corum’s pledge.

Corum is also the fourth player from St. Frances Academy in Laurel, Maryland to commit to Michigan during this cycle joining Osman Savage, Micah Mazzccua and Nikhai Hill-Green. Savage and Corum are four-stars, while Mazzccua, an offensive lineman and Hill-Green, a linebacker are both three-star prospects.

The Wolverines are now up to 19 commitments for the 2020 class and their group is currently ranked ninth after being ranked 23rd this past weekend. While another running back is likely to be added at some point, others like Eamonn Dennis and A.J. Henning could also contribute there, along with 2019 commits Giles Jackson and Mike Sainristil.

Corum is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.4. Here is his scouting evaluation from Brian Dohn of 247 sports:

"Corum has burst, can change direction at a high speed, is patient in waiting for plays to develop and he knows how to set up his blocks down the field. He is elusive, and he he runs with power. He has the speed to get to the edge, and the balance to turn the corner. As he gets older, his size and strength will continue to develop. He also will develop more ability to cut back"

Corum recently visited Ohio State and had offers from the Buckeyes, as well as Kentucky, LSU and USC. He is the seventh top-250 player Michigan football has landed in 2020.

Even though he is the ninth commitment since Sunday, Matt Dudek, Michigan’s director of recruiting, teased 10, so more should be coming, maybe even Thursday or Friday.