The Rams seem to have a running back battle for the backup spot, with second-year pro Blake Corum and rookie Jarquez Hunter both having great camps since the pads came on. Corum, who the Rams took in the third round during the 2024 draft, saw limited production and volume in his rookie year, carrying the ball 58 times for 207 yards. Hunter, on the other hand, was taken in the fourth round in April and ran for just over 1,200 yards last season for Auburn on 6.4 yards per carry.
In recent years, head coach Sean McVay has adopted the running back by committee style, allowing for the lead back to have a little more gas in the tank come playoff time, while also giving other backs on the roster meaningful snaps throughout the regular season, as we saw at points with Corum last season. With both Corum and Hunter bringing positive impacts so far in training camp, Rams fans can expect these two to take some of the load off Kyren Williams, who is entering his fourth year with the team.
Coach McVay had some more to say on Corum, specifically commenting on how good Corum has looked so far in training camp.
“I think [Blake] has done a really good job,” McVay said last week. “I thought he had some excellent runs today. I think he’s had a really good camp. He’s one of those guys who, because of how conscientious he is, he’s going to improve in his second year. I think [Running Backs Coach] Ron Gould does such a great job with that room as a whole. Really love what we’ve seen from Blake and Jarquez Hunter.”
Blake Corum toss sweep!!! pic.twitter.com/2wERn9ZWeZ
— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025
Hunter got some love from McVay, too, catching the coach’s eye in practice for his physicality.
“I thought you saw Jarquez do an excellent job,” McVay said last week. “He’s heavy. He’s got a great body lean. Even though we’re not truly tackling, you can feel that he is heavy through the hole. He has a really good demeanor. He can stare a hole through you. He’s continuing to show improvement.”
Jarquez Hunter. pic.twitter.com/x3OcJXHLT8
— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025
With this high praise for both Corum and Hunter, hopefully the two will be given the chance to prove themselves in the regular season game in and game out. This variation of good backs can also help to improve the Rams’ rushing attack, which ranked 23rd in yards per game for the 2024 season.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Corum and Hunter impress in camp, ready for bigger roles