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L.A.’s running back depth chart should be hotly contested
With three exciting, young prospects competing for time, the Los Angeles Rams running back room appears well-stocked for 2025. Kyren Williams was recently voted by his peers as the 85th best player in the NFL, while rookie Jarquez Hunter had some of the best big play numbers in all of college football last year. And then there’s Blake Corum.
Corum came into focus last year, drafted within the Top 100 and was worked into the offense slowly, gaining only 119 offensive reps. He was given a big chance in the season final mop-up game versus the Seattle Seahawks, but broke his arm on a kickoff return only 12 plays into the game. His season stats were modest on the ground, 207 yards rushing on 58 carries (3.6 YPC). He snared seven of eight passes for 58 yards and although he didn’t record a touchdown, chipped in 186 yards on kickoff returns.
One of the first things that stands out on film is that he’s a natural runner, with a good feeling for the flow of the play. Just a shade under 5’ 8” and 205 lb. at the 2024 NFL Combine, Corum has stated he likes to play around 210 lb.
While not a a scat back, he possesses the ability to make quick darting moves and jump cuts. Very flexible and loose, Corum shows plus lateral agility, burst, balance, and change of direction skills that lends credence to his stellar 3cone (6.82) and shuttle (4.12) numbers at the Combine. His long speed (4.53) and 10 yard split (1.58), although not outstanding, are still on the plus side of NFL parameters. His film tells a different story on both.
Nor is Corum a true power back. Not a bruiser play style, although powerfully built and compact. He looks like an old-time fire hydrant, short, squatty and forged out of cast iron. He put up an amazing 27 bench press reps at the Combine. Running with a natural low center of gravity and behind his pads, he presents very little for defenders to latch onto. If would-be tacklers, do not put a body on him and wrap up, his leg churn drives right through arm tackles.
He presses the line of scrimmage and is blessed with exceptional vision to identify holes and read blocks. Once identified, Corum does not tarry, he hit’s the creases. But he’s not a bull in a china shop plowing forward, he shows patience and is nimble waiting for blocks to set up and explodes tightly off them. This shows particularly at the second level, where time and time again, he attains extra yardage by taking the routes given by blockers.
Most all of Corum’s draft previews questioned his receiving ability, mostly because the Michigan didn’t throw to him much. His film shows good hands, looking the ball in and quick transition from run to catch. He handles check downs just...
