Blake Corum, the running back for the Michigan Wolverines, is becoming quite popular both on and off the field. He was just announced as one of the three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award. Tony Bradford of Texas Tech and Mike Hollins of Virginia are also finalists, in addition to Corum.
“The FBS college football player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field” is the recipient of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, which was instituted in 2017, according to the award releases.
In addition to running for 1,028 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, Corum also made numerous off-field contributions to the community.
He has generously donated money and numerous hours of his time, using his NIL money, to help not only his hometown in Virginia but also the Ann Arbor community as well as the surrounding areas of Ypsilanti and Detroit, Mich.
Through his “Giving Back 2 Give Thanks” event, Corum gave gallons of milk and more than 600 Thanksgiving turkey dinners to Ypsilanti’s underprivileged residents. But in the three years that this event has been held, he has given the community more than 1,000 Thanksgiving dinner donations.
Furthermore, Corum coordinated a back-to-school initiative that provided community members with school supplies-filled backpacks. In collaboration with the Detroit Police Athletic League and Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry, he also oversaw two holiday toy drives in 2021 and 2023. He has read to kids, made guest appearances at schools, and visited schools.
The winner of the prize receives a $10,000 donation from Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his spouse Michelle, to the athletic scholarship fund at his school. The winner will be announced on February 15, 2024, at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas.
