Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 7

Tag: Blake Countess


20Oct 2015
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Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 7


Former CB commit Gareon Conley:
Conley made 7 tackles in Ohio State’s 38-10 win over Penn State.

Former CB Blake Countess: Countess had 6 tackles and 1 pass breakup in Auburn’s close 30-27 win over Kentucky. He was also called for two big pass interference penalties, which helped keep Kentucky in the game.

Former CB commit Dallas Crawford: Crawford had 1 tackle in Miami’s 30-20 win over Virginia Tech.

Hit the jump for more updates.

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6Oct 2015
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Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 5

Justice Hayes (#7)

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley missed part of the game with an injury, but he made 3 tackles in a 34-27 Ohio State win over Indiana.

Former CB Blake Countess: Countess made 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in Auburn’s 35-21 win over San Jose State. He also returned a kickoff for 61 yards.

Former CB commit Dallas Crawford: Crawford made 2 tackles in Miami’s 34-23 loss to Cincinnati.

Hit the jump for several more updates on former Wolverines.

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22Sep 2015
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Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 3

Dennis Norfleet (#18)


Former quarterback Russell Bellomy:
 Bellomy was 1/4 for 3 yards, and he ran 2 times for 2 yards in the University of Texas-San Antonio’s 69-14 loss to Oklahoma State.

Former cornerback commit Gareon Conley: Conley had 1 pass breakup in Ohio State’s too-close 20-13 victory over Northern Illinois.
 
Former cornerback Blake Countess: Countess had 4 tackles and 1 pass breakup, but the Auburn Tigers got trounced by the LSU Tigers, 45-21. Countess was the unfortunate recipient of a Leonard Fournette trucking, too.

Hit the jump for numerous other updates on former Wolverines.

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16Sep 2015
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Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 2

Blake Countess (#24)

Former QB Russell Bellomy: In a 30-3 loss to Kansas State, Bellomy was 3/4 for 36 yards for the University of Texas-San Antonio. He also had 4 carries for 4 yards.

Former CB Blake Countess: The big story for Countess is that he was ejected for “targeting” on a tackle against Jacksonville State. It was a poor call, in my opinion, as he just happened to hit the runner’s head as he slid to the ground. Countess made 3 tackles before the ejection.

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: In victories against Virginia Tech (42-24)and Hawaii (38-0), Conley has notched 9 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, .5 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 pass breakups.

Hit the jump for updates on several more former Wolverines and commits.
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27May 2015
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Thoughts on Countess and Hayes Transfers

It has been known for a while that running back Justice Hayes would transfer, although the destination was unknown; he’s now planning to play for Southern Miss. Blake Countess somewhat abruptly announced a transfer not long ago, and yesterday he told the world that he would be ending up at Auburn.

Countess is headed to Auburn, which has a depleted secondary that might become even more depleted in the coming weeks. Jonathon Mincy graduated and got a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons. Jonathan Jones, meanwhile, made 6 picks last season and despite suffering a minor injury this spring, he will be one of the Tigers’ starting corners this fall. On the other side, Joshua Holsey is a senior who started seven games last fall, making 41 tackles and 2 pass breakups. He will probably be Countess’s primary competition to start, since no other returning players saw much action. Otherwise, Auburn is bringing in several freshmen to compete, including 4-stars Carlton Davis and Javarius Davis. If Countess transferred for playing time reasons (which is partially rumored to be the case, since the coaching staff pursued Wayne Lyons), he’s going to have to compete against Holsey and some other talented athletes in the SEC.

In Hayes’s case, Southern Mississippi returns its top four running backs from last year. None of them was very accomplished, though. The leading back was then freshman Ito Smith (536 yards, 3.9 yards/carry, 2 touchdowns), while little used freshman Tez Parks and junior Jalen Richard averaged 5.6 and 5.9 yards/carry, respectively. Hayes enters a rather crowded backfield, but Conference USA is weaker competition, and Southern Miss typically survives with 3-star and 2-star recruits. Hayes has decent speed, and while his production was never anything special at Michigan, he should be able to get some playing time in that backfield. He also offers the flexibility to be able to move out into the slot and catch some passes, and he could help on kickoff returns, although the Golden Eagles return senior Michael Thomas, who averaged over 24 yards/return and took one to the house last year.

Neither player is walking into a situation where he will be guaranteed a starting gig, and he won’t necessarily be the most talented guy at his position, either. In recent years we have seen players like Josh Furman, Thomas Rawls, and Richard Ash leave Michigan only to flourish elsewhere immediately. It will be interesting to see whether Hayes and Countess continue that trend. Personally, I have always been high on Countess and I think he’s better than Holsey – but I also think he’s better than Wayne Lyons. Meanwhile, Hayes was uninspiring during his time at Michigan and struggles to run through contact, but he should bring a little speed to the Southern Miss backfield and get a fair chance to shine.