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Does Michigan football have the best RB duo in the past decade?

By Jacob Bruetsch

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Trevor Keegan #77 lifts Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines during the a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan defeated Rutgers 52-17. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 05: Trevor Keegan #77 lifts Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines during the a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan defeated Rutgers 52-17. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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The past 10 years have seen a number of dominant backfields propel schools to crazy heights. From leading teams to national titles to both being high selections in the NFL draft, elite tandems have found great results. Looking at the upcoming 2023 season, Michigan football hopes Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards have a chance to cement themselves as members of that conversation.

The two both played incredibly well in 2022, and return surrounded by an incredible offensive line and quarterback.

With the surrounding pieces at their disposal, they could come out as the best running back duo the country has seen in a long time. But who exactly is the Michigan football tandem competing against for that title? Let’s examine that and their chances.

Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, 2016

NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 24: Running backs Samaje Perine #32 and Joe Mixon #25 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate a touchdown. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 24: Running backs Samaje Perine #32 and Joe Mixon #25 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate a touchdown. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images) /

The 2016 Oklahoma Sooners’ offense was stacked. Future Heisman winner Baker Mayfield at quarterback, with Biletnikoff winner Dede Westbrook and now star tight end Mark Andrews at his disposal. The Sooners’ rushing attack, however, truly completed the offense. Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, who both went on to the NFL, split carries pretty evenly, and made the offense run. Both tallied over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns and combined for a total of 2,334 yards and 10 touchdowns on over six yards per carry.

The duo’s best season saw the Sooners narrowly miss out on the College Football Playoff. However, the team made it in 2015, with Perine and Mixon once again carrying a large part of the offensive load.

Mixon was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he still plays. Perine was a fourth-round pick by the Washington Commanders, and after bouncing around the league is now with the Denver Broncos.

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