Joseph Maiorana – USA TODAY Sports
Whenever there is a coaching change, you can expect a certain amount of turnover on the roster. With the Michigan Wolverines hiring Jim Harbaugh this offseason, they have been no exception to that rule. But the latest player to announce that they will be leaving the program, defensive back Blake Countess, will have a significant impact on the Wolverine defense next fall.
The 5-foot-10 senior played in 38 games during his career at Michigan, tallying 114 tackles and six interceptions. He was named All-Big-Ten first-team in 2013 and honorable mention last season. This season, he was expected to once again compete for a spot in the cornerback rotation or at nickelback and a be a significant contributor to the Michigan defense.
Instead, Countess will leave the program as a graduate transfer after receiving his degree from the school last month and use his final year of eligibility somewhere else. His departure will be eased somewhat by the arrival of cornerback Wayne Lyons this fall, a graduate transfer from the Stanford Cardinal, who figured to compete with Countess for playing time in 2015. Lyons was a major contributor to the Stanford defense, accumulating 124 tackles and three interceptions over the last three seasons.
How well Lyons now steps in and picks up the Michigan defense will have a major impact on the Wolverines’ fortunes this fall. Michigan finished as the No. 5 pass defense in the Big Ten last season and can’t suffer any significant drop-off in 2015 if they hope to compete at any level for the conference title. Finding someone to step up to replace the production and experience of Countess will likely be a top priority in fall camp and central to the team’s success next season.
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