Auburn Football News: Tigers Add Cornerback Blake Countess Via Transfer from Michigan

The Auburn Tigers addressed an immediate need at cornerback thanks to a certain NCAA rule for college graduates, adding Blake Countess via transfer from Michigan.

Countess confirmed his transfer Tuesday on his Instagram account, sharing a picture of a Tigers' logo and the common Auburn rally cry "War Eagle."

AuburnSports.com previously reported the recent graduate visited the campus Friday and left highly impressed. He made his decision public the day he was reportedly scheduled to start his three-day visit of Oklahoma and told the website of the Tigers' coaching staff. "They are all great guys and their track records speak for themselves. They know what they are doing and they have done it successfully at high levels.

"They all sat down with me and did a really good job of explaining their situation to me. They explained how they would utilize me and my skillset, how they would help me get to where I want to be and also how I could help get them to where they want to be, which is national champions."

Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn previously told AL.com cornerback was one spot on the defensive depth chart where his team was lacking. A former four-star recruit and a fifth-year graduate transfer student, Countess brings experience and talent to the Tigers' backfield.

"Defensive secondary," the coach told reporters on a mid-May teleconference. "We don't have a lot of experience, we don't have a lot of depth, we're going to have to rely on some guys that maybe don't have the experience that you'd like - or some new guys coming in - but like I said earlier: I think that falls into the category that we have a chance to get better each game."

He is also joining a defense that will be helmed by the newly hired Will Muschamp, who has a sterling reputation for defensive toughness in the SEC.

The transfer is also the latest for a Michigan team that has lost five players since Jim Harbaugh took over.