Former gymnast Blake Countess could be key to stopping Virginia Tech's stable of large receivers

Cornerback Blake Countess was eased into the rotation throughout the early part of the season before finally taking the starting job from senior Troy Woolfolk against Purdue.

He became an unexpected stalwart for Michigan's defense, and showed against Iowa's Marvin McNutt that he can be effective against big receivers, despite his 5-foot-10, 176-pound frame.

Mattison said he needed to see only "about one play" before he had enough confidence to match up Countess against McNutt.

"One thing about corners that have a chance to be really good, they have a very, very short memory," Mattison said. "Their conscience isn't very good, because just about the time in practice where you're yelling at a young man for not doing what he's supposed to be doing, he's already forgot what you just said, and he's ready to play the next play.

"You can tell if a guy kind of has it. ... He has it."

Countess said he works well against bigger receivers because he takes so many repetitions working on his technique and discipline against them.

It goes back to a piece of advice his father told him since he was a boy in gymnastics and karate: "Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance."

"He’s been telling me that since I was little, even when I wasn’t playing football," Countess said.

The 18-year-old from Baltimore began competing in gymnastics when was 3 years old. He said he thinks that background is part of what has helped separate him as a cornerback.

"I don’t really notice it, but people tell me I got good hips and good balance, things like that," Countess said. "Whereas, if it’s someone without a gymnastics background, if they’re doing the same thing, (it's harder)."

Countess finished with 36 tackles in the regular season and had six pass break-ups, second on the team behind J.T. Floyd. He also forced a fumble.

He's already begun drawing comparisons to former great Michigan corners. He says he's most often compare to Donovan Warren.

High praise for a player who turned 18 two days before the start of fall camp — but he's earned it.

"I don’t think I ever felt like a freshman — some of the older guys remind you that you're a freshman, though," he said with a smile.