Corum Named One of Three Finalists for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award
12/14/2023 1:43:00 PM | Football
DALLAS, Texas -- University of Michigan running back Blake Corum was recognized as one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, it was announced on Thursday (Dec. 14). Corum is joined by Tony Bradford of Texas Tech and Mike Hollins of Virginia as finalists.
Corum is the first Wolverine chosen as a finalist for the award, now in its seventh year.
A first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches of America, Corum is the nation's leading scorer and Michigan's single-season record-holder with 24 rushing touchdowns this season. He has reached the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the second year in a row (1,028) with only 12 yards lost on 218 carries this season. He recently became the fourth back to capture the Big Ten Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year Award twice (2022, '23). Captain of the AFCA Good Works Team, Corum also was a Wuerffel Trophy Finalist and a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards in addition to receiving this distinction from the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. With 55 rushing touchdowns in his career, Corum needs just one more to become Michigan's all-time leader.
Corum says "Football is my passion, but giving back is my purpose," and he has lived that mantra during his time as a Wolverine. Through NIL earnings, he has generously contributed money and many hours of his time to bettering the Ann Arbor campus community and the nearby areas of Ypsilanti and Detroit, Mich., in addition to his hometown in Virginia.
Corum's flagship event is his Giving Back 2 Give Thanks event during Thanksgiving. This year, he provided more than 600 Thanksgiving turkey meals and donated gallons of milk for those in need in Ypsilanti. Over the past three years, he has donated more than 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to the community.
Corum also has provided backpacks full of school supplies to the area in a back-to-school event. He has undertaken two holiday toy drives (2021, '23) with the Detroit Police Athletic League and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry. He has been active in visiting schools, reading to kids and as a guest speaker.
The Jason Witen Collegiate Man of the Year Award is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. The winner receives a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund from Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
All three finalists will be invited to attend the award ceremony on Feb. 15, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.
