Michigan football starting running back Blake Corum needs knee surgery and is out for the season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday.
Corum, who was named to the first team All-Big Ten on Wednesday and selected as a Doak Walker Award finalist for the best running back in the nation, suffered a left knee injury when he was tackled along the sideline late in the first half of Michigan’s home finale against Illinois.
The running back tried to return to the game in the second half and carried the ball twice, before returning to the sideline for the remainder of the game. Coach Jim Harbaugh said Corum was in the training room ‘all week’ getting ready for Ohio State and the junior running back dressed for the contest.
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He ran the ball twice on the first series against the Buckeyes for 6 yards, before he was pulled from the game and did not return. According to Rapoport, Corum is scheduled to have surgery.
The junior tailback was in the midst of one of the best seasons for a running back in Michigan program history. Corum ran 247 times for 1,463 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 80 yards and a score.
Except for when he played just two snaps at Ohio State, Corum scored a touchdown in every game this season and had more than 100 rushing yards in the other eight Big Ten games.
Michigan’s Donovan Edwards figures to starting running back now, with freshman CJ Stokes likely to back him up. Edwards comes off his best day in Columbus, when he set career marks in carries (22) and rushing yards (216) while scoring twice in the fourth quarter.
Edwards has 92 carries for 687 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns. He’s also a dynamic option in the passing game, with 16 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan will play Purdue in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis.