Corum Named 2022 Chicago Tribune Silver Football Winner
12/15/2022 1:58:00 PM | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The winner of the 2022 Chicago Tribune Silver Football is running back Blake Corum of the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team, it was announced on Thursday (Dec. 15). The award goes to the Big Ten's most valuable player, regardless of position, as voted on by the head coaches of the conference.
Corum is the 19th player in Michigan history to win the award and his recognition gives U-M back-to-back winners for the first time since 2003-04 (Chris Perry, Braylon Edwards) following the 2021 winner, Aidan Hutchinson.
The Marshall, Va., native impressed this season as Michigan's lead back, totaling 247 carries for 1,463 rushing yards (No. 8, NCAA), the most yards by a U-M back since Mike Hart's 2006 season (1,562 yards). Corum achieved that rushing total despite seven games this year with no fourth-quarter touches (out of 11 played).
A consensus All-American, Corum finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy Balloting and also earned the title of Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year. He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award.
Corum is seventh in the nation with 19 total touchdowns (18 rushing), second in first downs (96) and eighth in total points (114). He ranks No. 10 in rushing yards per game (121.9 yards per game) and despite a career-high 247 carries, he only suffered 31 yards lost on the season.
The Big Ten's coaches had a close-up look at what makes Corum special during league play when the back was especially impressive. In eight conference games, Corum averaged 5.8 yards per carry for 1,222 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns (one receiving). And his streak of at least 100 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown in eight consecutive Big Ten games was the longest streak at U-M in the last 25 seasons.
Corum helped the Wolverines reach a 13-0 mark for the first time in program history on the strength of the NCAA's No. 7 scoring offense (40.1 points per game) and the No. 6 rushing offense (243 yards per game). With consecutive Big Ten Championships, the Maize and Blue is poised for another College Football Playoff run.
