It’s not easy following greatness. Steve Young didn’t have it easy following Montana; Aaron Rodgers was basically boo’d out of Lambeau Field in his first start; and god bless the poor soul that starts at shortstop in Yankee Stadium
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Last year we did an article on an 8th grade running back named Ricky Slade that was making plays all over the field. In that article we told the nation to watch out for this young man because he had tremendous ability; fast forward to today and Ricky Slade was just named his conference’s offensive player of the year as a freshman after racking up over 1,800 total yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. Not to mention after just one season of high school football he has offers from Clemson, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Not a bad freshman campaign.
Now, let’s meet an 8th grader that physically, is ahead of where Slade was a year ago at this time. Introducing; Blake Corum.
At 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, Corum is one of the top backs I’ve seen in the 2019 class this season. The coveted back whose services are wanted by high schools such as Kettle Run, Good Counsel, Bishop O’Connell and Woodberry Forrest, helped the Manassas Mutiny to a 9-2 overall record and conference championship game in his first season with the team.
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His list of accomplishments on the youth level are ever-expanding, but some of his top ones are being named an MVP at FBU Top Gun, being named an NUC All-American, being named starting running back of the FBU Northern Virginia team and being selected to play in the Maryland Crab Bowl.
As previously stated he’s physically ahead of where 2018 stud Ricky Slade was at this time last year. Corum is a workout fanatic and is in the weight room four days a week.
“I lift three or four days a week for two hours at Kettle Run with my trainer, Bill Whisenant,” said Corum. “Right now my back bench is 215 pounds, my squat is 300 pounds and my dead lift is 300 pounds.”
Those are some impressive numbers for the majority of high school running backs in the country, let alone an 8th grader.
His athletic ability isn’t limited to just the football field. He’s been playing travel select baseball as a centerfielder since age 8 and also wrestles nationally for Team Virginia.
You don’t want to draw comparisons and put expectations on an athlete this young, but it’s difficult to see what Ricky Slade has accomplished as a freshman and not think just how good Blake Corum could be next year.
I said it last year about Slade and I’ll say it this year about Corum…this is a player the country needs to know about.
Blake Corum The Work Horse
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Alan Popadines @Youth1Football 7 years ago