Michigan Wolverines

Transfer Lyons could have big impact on Michigan secondary

Published May. 13, 2015 11:41 a.m. ET

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Earlier this week Michigan made official news that had been expected for a while: Cornerback Wayne Lyons will play his last year of college football in Maize and Blue after graduating from Stanford.

What does that mean for the Wolverines? Well, any team can use more experienced, talented players on its roster, but Lyons could be an answer at a potential position of need.

After going into last season wanting to be a pressing team, Michigan had to back off when its personnel proved unable to handle it. The Wolverines finished 11th in the Big Ten in pass efficiency defense and had a league-worst five interceptions.

One starter, Raymon Taylor, is gone while the other, Blake Countess, will be looking to bounce back after a sub-par 2014. The media voted Countess a first-team All-Big Ten performer in 2013 when he tied for the league lead in interceptions, but he had only three pass breakups and no picks last year, when he proved able to run with receivers but struggled to make plays on the ball when it arrived.

Jourdan Lewis, who started seven games last season as a sophomore and made the only two interceptions by a Michigan defensive back while tying Taylor for the team lead with six pass breakups, flashed the ability to be a playmaker, but he has not played a full season as a starter.

Lyons at worst gives the Wolverine coaching staff insurance behind its potential top two, but he could be an upgrade at one spot or the other, too.

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