With 18 Michigan players in this year’s NFL Draft, Jim Harbaugh will have plenty of chances to bring some Wolverines to the Los Angeles Chargers. The head coach is reportedly expected to target Blake Corum.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano , the Chargers could pursue the former Michigan running back as a Day 2 selection.
“No running backs are expected to go in the first round, and there’s a great variety of opinion on which one will be the first back selected this year,” Graziano wrote. “I’ve spoken to scouts from multiple teams who think Michigan’s Blake Corum might be the best of the bunch and believe Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will do what it takes to make sure he’s reunited with his college coach.”
The Chargers are +190 betting favorites to draft Corum, who played four seasons under Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. After exceeding 100 rushing yards in eight straight games as a junior, the All-American scored 28 touchdowns for the national champions last season.
Corum said it’d be “crazy” to keep playing for Harbaugh, but it doesn’t appear to be a far-fetched scenario.
Star running back Austin Ekeler left the Chargers in free agency. While Los Angeles signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, Harbaugh may still desire another impact running back for an offense that lost wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason.
The Chargers would presumably take Corum with the No. 37 pick early in Friday’s second round. Nearly every mock draft predicts they’ll choose a wide receiver or offensive lineman with the No. 5 pick (or trade down) on Thursday night.