Blake Countess to Transfer

Submitted by JTownMaize on

Blake Countess just announced on Instagram he will play his final year of eligibility at a different school for next season.

The Mad Hatter

May 13th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

Here comes that attrition that all of us were expecting.  Any indication as to why or where?

Wish him luck.

EDIT:  I thought he was a junior for some reason.  This makes more sense now.

DrMantisToboggan

May 13th, 2015 at 2:57 PM ^

Not really, we knew about Lyons a LONG time ago. Blake went through the whole spring as a leader of this team, as he and the coaches alike pointed out. He either had a very recent disagreement with the coaches or has a non-football reason and possibly wants to be closer to home in Maryland. Like was so well-articulated on the front page today, Lyons and Countess probably would have seen a 50-50 split in PT, at most. More likely, 65-35 in Countess' favor. 

I really hope Brandon Watson and the gang are developing enough to give us adequate depth here. Jabrill is probably your Nickel corner most of the time anyways, as the newly-coined HSP.

MichiganExile

May 13th, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^

Just as an opposing viewpoint don't you think this has been a decision that Blake has known or been considering for a long time? Everything about his personality suggests that he probably informed the coaches about his thoughts as well. The coaches may have found a contingency plan in Lyons. 

DrMantisToboggan

May 13th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^

Blake is a great person and teammate, I'm sure he went about this the right way. It would be very weird to me however, knowing the strength of his friendships on the team, that we would find out about Lyons in January and he would wait this long to tell someone he was transferring. If he told the coaches he probably told a teammate or two. Plus, most graduate transfers have it made known a little while before they graduate so that they can guage interest and set up visits. Why would Blake wait 1.5 weeks after Michigan's graduation to announce it, and why would he spend all spring learning Durkin's defense? 

Yes, there is a chance that Blake has known this for sometime now and there is also a chance that the coaches knew for a little while too. But that doesn't add up to me and I certainly don't think Lyons played any role in it. 

My best guess is that he got his UofM degree, he saw that he isn't the ideal corner for this staff (which isn't to say he wouldn't have played top 2 snaps), and he wanted to go somewhere that would A) be closer to home/family and B) make him the number 1 corner (which he wouldn't have been here, with or without Lyons.

DowntownLJB

May 13th, 2015 at 2:52 PM ^

congratulations to Blake on graduating and best of luck to him.  I hope he lands in a great football situation where he can showcase his skills.

StephenRKass

May 13th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

I'm sad but not shocked. When you read the front page piece by Seth, it highlights Countess in particular as not being a good fit for what the defense wants to do. With Lyons transferring in, and Courtney Lewis locking down a spot, someone was going to lose playing time. I wish Countess well.

JayMo4

May 13th, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^

Good luck to him.  I'm a little bummed, but I really do have a pretty good feeling about the corners we've still got.  Hope it all works out for us and for him.

Rabbit21

May 13th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^

Glad he graduated and will take the opportunity to expand his horizons if that's what he feels is the best thing for him.  Best of luck to him wherever he goes.

ypsituckyboy

May 13th, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^

He's gonna be a great pick up as far as grad transfers go for some lucky school.

Also, I'm gonna start making this a thing...

ATTRITIIIIOOOONNNNN. ATTRITION.

MGoClimb

May 13th, 2015 at 3:01 PM ^

Damn. That was a great write up by Seth earlier today, too.

Best of luck, Countess. It was a pleasure watching you play for Michigan.