Blake Countess, Ex-Wolverine

Tag: Ex-Wolverines


14May 2015
Uncategorized 17 comments

Blake Countess, Ex-Wolverine

Blake Countess

Rising fifth-year senior cornerback Blake Countess has elected to play his final year of college ball elsewhere. The 5’10”, 185 lb. corner was expected to compete for a starting job this fall after having a disappointing 2014 season.

Coming out of Olney (MD) Good Counsel, Countess was a Rivals 4-star and the #133 player nationally in the 2011 class. I gave him a TTB Rating of 84 (LINK) and was pleased with his commitment (LINK), which took place shortly before Rich Rodriguez was fired. I thought he would be Michigan’s next good corner after Donovan Warren departed in 2009.

Countess played immediately as a freshman in 2011 and started six games that year, finishing with 44 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble. ESPN and the Big Ten Network included him on their conference all-freshman teams. Entering the 2012 season as a starter, Countess got injured playing special teams in the season opener against Alabama and missed the rest of the year with a torn ACL. He came back with a vengeance in 2013, making First Team All-Big Ten with 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions (1 touchdown), and 4 pass breakups. Big things were expected, but his production fell off (24 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and he saw diminished playing time in 2014.

Rumors started to pop up about Countess potentially transferring around the same time Wayne Lyons appeared headed to Michigan. Essentially, the defensive backfield was getting crowded with talented and/or veteran players – Countess, Lyons, junior Jourdan Lewis, sophomore Jabrill Peppers, and senior Jarrod Wilson are all starting-caliber players, and a couple other guys are pushing for playing time. Countess is not a physical corner, and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin’s preferred style of defense did not seem primed to mesh with Countess’s. Even so, Countess would have seen plenty of playing time even if he didn’t start.

But a 4-star guy in his fifth year – a guy who had 6 picks in one season a couple years ago – should probably be starting somewhere. A player of his caliber has an eye on the NFL, and the NFL doesn’t draft many college backups. It’s somewhat understandable that Countess would look to transfer to a more amenable situation.

Unfortunately, this transfer comes at the expense of Michigan’s quality depth. There’s likely no question that the two front-runners for the cornerback jobs are Lewis and Lyons, but the only experienced backup is junior Channing Stribling, who has yet to make a significant play despite a fair amount of time on the field. The position is supplemented by redshirt junior Terry Richardson, redshirt sophomore Ross Taylor-Douglas, redshirt sophomore Reon Dawson, and redshirt freshman Brandon Watson, none of whom have registered a single stat. Furthermore, the lone cornerback in the 2015 class is lanky project Keith Washington. There appears to be a serious deficit in cornerback talent when you get younger than Lewis, although Watson has some potential.

Five years later, linebacker Desmond Morgan is the only player remaining from the 2011 class, which was the Rodriguez-to-Hoke transition year. Attrition can be expected from classes with that kind of instability, but too many players played early and exhausted their eligibility this past season.

13May 2015
Uncategorized 15 comments

Dennis Norfleet, Ex-Wolverine

Dennis Norfleet (image via USA Today)

Running back/slot receiver/cornerback/kick returner/punt returner Dennis Norfleet has been dismissed from Michigan’s football team. Steve Lorenz from 247 Sports reported that he skipped several final exams, which is not a good idea for you prospective college students out there.

Rumors had been swirling about Norfleet for the past couple weeks, and this was likely the reason. The story going around is that Jim Harbaugh informed him that he did not see Norfleet playing a significant role in Michigan’s future, which caused Norfleet to have a negative reaction. He essentially made an emotional decision and put his academics on the back burner, which sealed the deal for his departure.

You may remember that Norfleet was switched to defense in the spring game. Primarily an offensive and special teams player throughout his career, he played cornerback a little at the end of the 2012 season and then this spring. The spring game saw Shane Morris, Amara Darboh, and Jaron Dukes picking on him for several completions, including the only touchdown of the day. Those were unfair matchups since Norfleet was largely inexperienced at the position and going against much larger receivers (Norfleet is 5’7″, while Darboh and Dukes are comfortably over 6’0″), but regardless, he had a job to do and didn’t get it done.

His career offensive output includes 15 carries for 130 yards (8.7 yards/carry) and 21 catches for 157 yards (7.5 yards/catch). He was a little awkward in 2014 as a downfield receiver, excelling more as a screen guy, a change-of-pace guy out of the backfield, etc. Norfleet’s biggest contribution came as a kickoff returner, where he was the school’s all-time return yardage leader (94 returns for 2,203 yards). He also returned 15 career punts for 90 yards. Norfleet never scored a touchdown in a Michigan uniform, unless you count the game against Maryland when an apparent punt return score was called back due to a penalty.

Norfleet was a late addition to the 2012 class, flipping from Cincinnati just before National Signing Day when the Wolverines stepped forward with an offer. In my commitment post (LINK), I thought he would be a solid starter on special teams, and he was. Too small to expect much of a regular role on either side of the ball, I said that I was bothered by the way Norfleet finished plays. It looks like that criticism carries over to classes, too.

Despite my criticism, I am a little disappointed that Norfleet will not return to the field for Michigan. He brought a lot of energy with his dancing and antics, and I can’t help feeling a little bad for a guy who touches the ball so much and never crosses the goal line. When Norfleet ambled over to the sideline when his touchdown was called back against Maryland, he needed consoling. It seemed like only a matter of time before Norfleet would break a big return, but he was always a half-step too slow or a bit too weak to break the last tackle attempt.

Norfleet will likely look to transfer. Since he reportedly has not graduated, he will have to either sit out a year while waiting to become eligible at another FBS school or transfer to a lower division for immediate eligibility. Meanwhile, Michigan will have to find a guy or guys to fill his special teams roles. Jabrill Peppers will probably handle some of those duties, while other candidates include Jourdan Lewis, Freddy Canteen, Amara Darboh, Brian Cole, Blake Countess, and Da’Mario Jones.

3May 2015
Uncategorized 5 comments

Ex-Wolverine Updates

Josh Furman (right) became a seventh round draft pick at Oklahoma State

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The NFL Draft is over and guys are signing undrafted free agent contracts, so it’s time for another ex-Wolverine update. I’m also including the fates of a few coaches, in case you’re wondering what some of those guys up to these days.

Former offensive coordinator Al Borges: Borges has been hired as San Jose State’s offensive coordinator (LINK). He joins former Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, who is SJSU’s defensive coordinator.

Former offensive line coach Darrell Funk: Funk has been hired as Akron’s offensive line coach (LINK).

Former safety Josh Furman: Furman, who spent his fifth year senior season playing linebacker at Oklahoma State, was drafted in the seventh round by the Denver Broncos (LINK).

Hit the jump for more ex-Wolverines, including a list of the fates of all 27 players from the 2010 class.

Former offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier: Nussmeier is first-year coach Jim McElwain’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida (LINK).

Former running back Thomas Rawls: Rawls, who transferred to Central Michigan for his senior year, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks (LINK).

Former linebackers/defensive line coach Mark Smith: Smith has been hired as Florida Tech’s defensive line coach (LINK).

Former safety Ray Vinopal: After spending his final four years at Pitt, Vinopal signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys (LINK).

Remember the monster 2010 recruiting class that saw the Wolverines sign 27 players? It has become notorious for how little was produced at Michigan, since the vast majority of players failed to qualify, quit, or transferred early in their careers. There are still some years left for them to prove themselves through pro tryouts and such, but with the NFL Draft completed and guys signing free agent contracts, here’s where things stand:

Richard Ash, DT: Played his fifth year at Western Michigan. Undrafted.

Courtney Avery, CB: Played four years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Jibreel Black, DE: Played four years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Cullen Christian, CB: Played one year at Michigan, three at Pitt, one at West Virginia. Undrafted.

Drew Dileo, WR: Played four years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Demar Dorsey, S: Did not qualify. Played at junior college.

Josh Furman, S: Played fifth year at Oklahoma State. Drafted in 7th round by Broncos.

Devin Gardner, QB: Played five years at Michigan. Signed as undrafted free agent by Patriots.

Will Hagerup, P: Played five years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Stephen Hopkins, RB: Played three years at Michigan. Quit football.

Jeremy Jackson, WR: Played four years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Carvin Johnson, S: Played one year at Michigan, three at Hampton. Undrafted.

Conelius Jones, QB/DB: Did not qualify.

Antonio Kinard, LB: Has not qualified. Played at junior college.

Ricardo Miller, WR: Played three years at Michigan, one year at UMass. Undrafted.

Christian Pace, C: Career ended early due to injury.

Jordan Paskorz, DE: Played four years at Michigan. Undrafted.

Jerald Robinson, WR: Played two years at Michigan, one in D-II. Undrafted.

Marvin Robinson, S: Played three years at Michigan, one in D-II. Signed as UDFA with Cowboys in 2014 but was released.

Davion Rogers, LB: Did not qualify. Played one season at Youngstown State. Undrafted.

Jake Ryan, LB: Played five years at Michigan. Drafted in 4th round by Packers.

Terrence Talbott, CB: Played two years at Michigan. Quit football.

Terry Talbott, DT: Played two years at Michigan. Quit football.

Ray Vinopal, S: Played one year at Michigan, four at Pitt. Signed as UDFA with Cowboys.

Austin White, RB: Played one year at Michigan, transferred to Central Michigan, got in legal trouble. Quit football.

Ken Wilkins, DE: Played four years at Michigan, one in D-II. Undrafted.

Adrian Witty, CB: Did not qualify immediately and signed with Cincinnati in 2011. Played four years at Cincinnati with a fifth coming up in 2015.

D.J. Williamson, WR: Played one year at Michigan. Quit football.

TOTALS
DNQ: (Dorsey, Jones, Kinard, Rogers, Witty) = 5
Quit or kicked off team: (Hopkins, Talbott, Talbott, White, Williamson) = 5
Played out eligibility: (Avery, Black, Dileo, Gardner, Hagerup, Jackson, Ryan) = 7
Left early for draft: 0
Transferred to other FBS schools: (Ash, Christian, Furman, Miller, Vinopal) = 5
Transferred to lower football divisions: 4 (Johnson, Robinson, Robinson, Wilkins) = 4
Career ended due to injury: (Pace) = 1

28Jan 2015
Uncategorized 10 comments

Messiah DeWeaver, Ex-Wolverine

Messiah DeWeaver

Huber Heights (OH) Wayne quarterback Messiah DeWeaver decommitted from Michigan on Tuesday night. He had been committed to the Wolverines since June of 2014. DeWeaver is a 6’3″, 202 lb. kid in the class of 2016. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #14 pro-style quarterback, and #310 overall.

Before he was originally offered a scholarship, I was hoping the coaching staff would hold off. The Wolverines were evaluating or had offered several other quarterbacks who I believed had higher potential, and I thought DeWeaver would jump at the chance to play for Michigan. The poor 2014 season for Michigan may have derailed their chances with some of the guys I viewed as better prospects, so for Michigan’s long-term prospects, that may have been a blessing in disguise. Once a player decommits from a program, it can be tough to tuck the tail between the legs and come back.

Now Michigan has a fresh start with a well-established new coach in Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh has had success developing quarterbacks in the past, including former #1 overall draft pick Andrew Luck (Stanford) and former 5th round draft pick Josh Johnson (San Diego), not to mention NFL quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. When Harbaugh was at Stanford, he brought in an average of two quarterbacks per class, and he looks to continue to do so at Michigan. The Wolverines already have Alex Malzone enrolled early, and last weekend saw a commitment from Zach Gentry, who will sign with Michigan next week. Meanwhile, even with DeWeaver committed, Harbaugh had been meeting with California QB K.J. Costello and Washington QB Jacob Eason, who are the #4 and #1 pro-style quarterbacks for the 2016 class. The previous staff had offered seven quarterbacks (LINK), and that number may increase in the near future.

With DeWeaver committed, I had secretly been hoping to avoid doing scouting reports on 10-20 quarterback prospects for 2016. But now it looks like that’s exactly what I’ll be doing in the next couple weeks.

6Jan 2015
Uncategorized 4 comments

Kyle Bosch, Ex-Wolverine

Kyle Bosch

Sophomore offensive guard Kyle Bosch has received his transfer release. His destination is unclear. If he transfers to another Division I school, he will have to sit out one season before playing again, which means the earliest he could play would be as a redshirt junior. If he transfers to a lower division, he should be able to play immediately.

Bosch came from Wheaton (IL) St. Francis and committed in February of 2012 (LINK). I gave him a TTB Rating of 88, confident that he would be a good starting guard down the line. As a true freshman in 2013, he was forced into action due to injuries and underperformance by his elders. He started three games late in the year but was eventually replaced. This year he played the final offensive snap of the season opener, and then it was reported that he was taking “an indefinite leave of absence” from the team that sounded like some sort of personal or family issue. He tweeted that he would return the next semester, and he has supposedly done so (he tweeted that he was “back in Ann Arbor”) but not to play football. At least not for Jim Harbaugh.

I am disappointed about Bosch’s departure because I thought he would be a very good player. I ranked him as Michigan’s top lineman in the 2013 class, he played first, and he had a nasty disposition. In fact, I think his style of play would work better for Harbaugh than it would have for Brady Hoke. But for whatever reason(s), he has chosen to depart. Of course, part of it may have to do with the issue that caused him to leave the team for almost the whole first semester. Another part may have to do with the fact that Michigan returns all five starters in 2015, plus versatile backup Erik Magnuson. Overall, the reasons seem to have to do with things other than football.

This is the second player to transfer since the firing of Brady Hoke (freshman linebacker Michael Ferns was the first) and the first player to transfer since the hiring of Jim Harbaugh. Bosch is also the first member of the 2013 class to leave, a class that included six linemen altogether. He will probably not be the last player to leave through the transition, and I have heard rumors about 1-2 other linemen, but those rumors came through before Harbaugh was hired; Bosch was also initially on that list of rumored departures, but again, that was somewhat predictable after he left school for three months.

Michigan has six current commits in the 2015 class and at least eight openings, so the class could reach 14 or more.