In a newsy day around the Michigan football offices - then again, what isn’t these days? - All-Big Ten cornerback Blake Countess announced on Instagram his intention to play his final season somewhere other than Ann Arbor. A rising senior, Countess is a graduate transfer and will be immediately eligible for playing time at his new destination.
The news comes two days after the Wolverines announced a gradate transfer defensive back addition of their own in landing the long-rumored Stanford defender Wayne Lyons.
“My past four years here at the University of Michigan have been great! Nothing but love and appreciation for Ann Arbor, the faculty, the coaches, the support staff and the great fans but after many sleepless nights and much prayer I have decided to play my final year of eligibility elsewhere,” Lyons wrote in an Instagram post of him standing in cap and gown with diploma in hand in front of a Big House scoreboard. “I truly thank those that have been there for me and hope you would continue to do so.”
A native of Owing Mills, Md., in the Baltimore area, Countess earned a spot on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list after a junior season in which he posted 24 tackles and three pass breakups after garnering 10 starts in 12 appearances. He was named an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection for his efforts.
Countess lettered as a true freshman on Michigan’s Sugar Bowl-winning 2011 team, earning ESPN.com and BTN.com Freshman All-America honors in the process. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2012 opening night loss to Alabama, and rebounded to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors from the league’s media after a junior season in which he ranked seventh nationally with six interceptions while also posting 46 tackles and two TFLs.