ANN ARBOR, MI – The Michigan football season, as well as Blake Corum’s Heisman quest, could be over.
Literally.
After finishing a run near the goal line, Michigan’s standout running back left the game against Illinois late in the second quarter, holding his left knee.
Corum was able to walk off the field on his own, but he spent a significant amount of time on the field with trainers and coaches clustered around him. His status for the remainder of the game is unknown.
Michigan led 7-3 at halftime, with Corum contributing 103 rushing yards and the team’s sole touchdown, as well as two catches for 39 yards. Corum had a team-high 17 carries at the time of his injury and was the team’s primary back.
At halftime, Michigan and Illinois are locked in a low-scoring fight.
Donovan Edwards, Michigan’s backup running back, is out today, leaving true freshman C.J. Stokes and redshirt Tavierre Dunlap as the only scholarship backs available for the rest of the game.
Corum entered Saturday as the third-best running back in the country in overall rushing yards (1,349), rushing touchdowns (17), and rushing yards per game (134.9). Michigan players and coaches have been boosting Corum’s Heisman candidacy for the past few weeks.
As a result, Michigan has relied heavily on Corum and its running assault for the majority of its offensive output this season. With Corum as the featured back, the Wolverines are running the ball at a 62 percent clip, good for 10th in the country. Entering Saturday, his 22.7 carries per game put him eighth in the country.
The Wolverines were already playing without starting guard Trevor Keegan and Edwards, and starting tight end Luke Schoonmaker (dressed and available) had yet to see action.
Corum returned to the field in uniform and with his helmet on for the second half.
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