Los Angeles Rams running back and Saint Frances graduate Blake Corum is in Baltimore this week before heading to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 19.
Corum is in his second year in the NFL. The 5-foot-8, 202-pound running back has played in six games this season, running for 156 yards and one touchdown on 29 carries (5.4 yards per carry). He scored 61 touchdowns for Michigan from 2020-2023 and was taken by the Rams in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Corum might not know what his role will be on a week-to-week basis as a reserve running back, but he doesn’t let that affect him.
“I’ve stayed ready my whole life for every opportunity I get, just to take advantage of [it],” Corum said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 10. “Just being the best version of myself, whether I am in or out. If I’m out, helping my teammates and cheering them on, whatever I can to do to help the team win. When I’m in, taking care of the fundamentals — just playing fast and having fun.”
Playing for the Rams always puts things into perspective for Corum and forces him to stay ready for every opportunity and control what he can. He is grateful for the experience.
“We have an amazing backfield, so I’m enjoying it,” he said.
Corum’s approach to a successful career is centered on overcoming adversity, which struck in Week 5 when Corum fumbled during a loss to the 49ers.
“I’ve played every sport. I wrestled for eight or nine years,” Corum said. “… That’s a one-on-one sport, and I’ve lost. You hit a little adversity. What are you going to do, just quit? Speaking of the last game, obviously fumbled, dropped the ball, but when you look at it, it’s all things you can fix. When you put it into that perspective it’s like, ‘OK, let me just focus in. Let me lock into those small details, things I’ve been doing since the age of 6.'”
Corum says facing adversity head-on makes him stronger, and the team is going to get stronger as a result. When facing challenging times, he says, “Thank you, let me fight through this, and the outcome is going to better just because I went through something.”
Corum said his father, James, was a big influence on his life in this regard. James was a blue-collar worker running a business who didn’t quit if things didn’t go right.
“Maybe some of his guys didn’t show up. He was low on staff. I remember he would wake up at 4 in the morning and not get home until the sun was down,” Corum said. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t want to do that every day. You have some clients that were calling and complaining, this and that. He had no choice but to keep going because of his family.”
“He never ran from it,” Corum added. “He’s become a better man, a better businessman, a better father and leader because of all that.”
The Rams bounced back from a loss to the 49ers to beat the Ravens, 17-3, on Oct. 12. Corum was asked if he looks at things differently or prepares differently when it comes to playing after a loss.
“It allows you to refine your focus,” Corum said. “The goal is still the goal, and that’s to win every game. … I think it just allows you to refocus and work on the things you need to work on so you don’t beat yourself or so you don’t make the same mistake. Mistakes are bound to happen. Mistakes are going to happen every game. Flags are going to get thrown and whatnot. But it’s how can I not make that mistake again to put my team in the best position possible?”
For more from Corum, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox