NFL Draft: Wolverines Feature Two Top-Five Running Backs

Enjoy them while you have them, folks.

The Michigan Wolverines will feature two of the top running backs in all of college football during the 2023 season, and most project it will be their last season in Ann Arbor.

Senior running back Blake Corum held off his dream of playing in the NFL in order to take care of some unfinished business in Ann Arbor.

“It was a tough decision," said Corum during an appearance on the Rich Eisen show. "A lot of nights I was coming back, a lot of nights I was going to the [NFL] draft. A lot of prayer. But I’m a Michigan man through and through. I love playing for the University of Michigan. I think I have unfinished business, I will be coming back for it all next year.”

Corum rushed his way to 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on 247 carries through the first 11 weeks of the season, becoming the first unanimous All-American at any running back or fullback position since Bob Chappius in 1947. He was also named Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2022, the first running back in program history to win the award. If not for an injury suffered in Week 11 against Illinois that essentially ended his season, there's a strong chance Corum would have added "Heisman trophy winner" to his resume last year.

As if having Corum back isn't enough, Michigan also returns junior running back Donovan Edwards - "The Don" as he is often referred to around Ann Arbor.

In spite of dealing with nagging injuries throughout the 2022 season, Edwards served as a critical piece to the Michigan offense. During his sophomore season, Edwards ran for a total of 991 yards and seven touchdowns, adding another 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns - and he saved his biggest performances for the biggest stage.

Against Ohio State, Edwards 216 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. In the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue, Edwards ran for 185 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries - earning the Big Ten Championship Player of the Game award.

Earlier this year, Edwards made it clear that his goal was to declare for the NFL Draft following the 2023 season.

“I’m just trying to go to the League after this year,” he said. “Trying to get drafted first round after this year. It’s in God’s plan for me — whatever that may be. If I have to come back another year, that’s God’s plan for me. My plan right now is to go to the NFL after this upcoming year.”

If Edwards does follow through on his pledge to declare for the draft after this season, it's entirely possible that you could see both Corum and Edwards as the first two running backs selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. In fact, PFF College recently listed the two Michigan running backs within the Top-5 running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft class - joining Florida State's Trey Benson, Wisconsin's Braelon Allen, and Ohio State's Treveyon Henderson.

Top 5 RBs in the 2024 NFL Draft, via @TampaBayTre pic.twitter.com/pFMsP7IbsA
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 14, 2023