Long, long ago, a scrawny, fast kid named Blake Countess was one of Michigan's most heralded recruits in the 2011 class. The Maryland product made it to Ann Arbor, roomed with senior corner Troy Woolfork, who took him under his wing, and got to work. In the fourth game of that 2011 season, Woolfork aggravated an ankle injury. Blake went in.
"As a true freshman, sometimes guys get those wide eyes when they come onto the field," said senior defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen. "But [Blake] reminds me of a guy like Donovan Warren when he first came in.