The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
BY MICHAEL SPATH B lake Countess has experi- enced the highest of highs during his career at Michi- gan, picking off two passes in a primetime win over Notre Dame at The Big House in 2013 and record- ing eight tackles in a 2011 Sugar Bowl victory among numerous individual achievements. He has also suffered the lowest of lows, blowing out his ACL in the 2012 opener while flailing in vain among six losses in 2013. He represents the epitome of the 2011 class — there has been some good, and there has been some bad. For the better part of two years, in 2011-12, the class could claim to be playing a small role, all that was required of the first- and second-year Wolverines, but they had a greater impact on the 2013 campaign and will be critical to the success or fail- ure in 2014. With eight players from that co- hort competing for starting roles of- fensively, defensively and on special teams this fall, the 2011 class should be afforded the chance to add a bevy of highlights to its résumé, earning the class a greater reputation collec- tively than it has yet assembled indi- vidually. THE TOP FOUR CONTRIBUTORS SO FAR 1. Blake Countess — A two-year starter at cornerback in 2011 and 2013, sandwiched around a 2012 sea- son in which he blew out his ACL, Countess has consistently proven himself a playmaker, recording 10 passes broken up and six intercep- tions in his career. Countess will likely transition to a new role this fall, moving to nickel back in a de- fense in which five defensive backs will regularly be employed. 2. Desmond Morgan — Averag- ing 80 tackles over the past two sea- 2011 CLASS REVIEW Coveting Hardware Featuring Eight Potential Starters, The 2011 Class Is Looking For A Strong Showing This Fall