Professional career
Countess was selected by the Eagles in the sixth round, 196th overall, in the 2016 NFL Draft. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Eagles. On September 4th, he was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad
A four-star cornerbacks recruit out of high school, Countess committed to Michigan and made an immediate impact with 44 tackles and six passes defended as a true freshman.He had a breakout season in 2013 with six interceptions, but moved to the nickel in 2014 and his production decreased. With a new coaching staff coming in, Countess looked for a fresh start and transferred to Auburn for his final season of eligibility, finishing 2015 with 13 passes defended and two interceptions – starting as a boundary corner for the Tigers before moving to safety for the final 10 games.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Although he shows the read/react quickness to drive on plays, his lack of play anticipation often makes him late to the catch point. Countess is willing in run support, but his marginal strength and wild angles leads to missed tackles.
His versatile experience at boundary corner and safety and flashes suggest there is a NFL future for Countess, but it is the inconsistent plays in between that will make it tough to trust him.
The Panthers also named their 10-man practice squad on Sunday: running back Jalen Simmons, wide receiver Keyarris Garrett, tight end Beau Sandland, guard David Yankey, defensive end Larry Webster, defensive tackle Eric Crume, linebacker Brian Blechen, cornerback Zack Sanchez and safeties Marcus Ball and Travell Dixon.
Built like a basketball power forward, Williams was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick in 2015 and enters the NFL with impressive career numbers: 96 receptions for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Williams looked unstoppable in stretches as a senior with five or more catches seven times and his best effort came against Florida, accounting for nine catches in his 58-catch season.
Williams redshirted at Marshall in 2011 before deciding to transfer to East Carolina and walk on before fall camp. He earned a roster spot but did not play that season.
Williams appeared in all 13 games as a sophomore and earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors with 20 catches for 220 yards and five touchdowns. He followed that up with 18 catches for 237 yards and four touchdown catches while earning second-team all-conference honors in 2014.
STRENGTHS: Value is as a pass-catcher with his long-striding speed and smooth route-running to attack soft spots in coverage. He moves like a wide receiver and catches the ball well in stride, displaying a good-sized catching radius and aggressive ballskills to pluck in contested situations.
Williams is a tough, scrappy player who can line up inline, in the backfield and out wide, playing like a bigger version of Riley Cooper on the field.
WEAKNESSES: Leaner than ideal and lacks desired bulk for the tight end position. Lacks ideal power as a ballcarrier.
Williams actually walked on for two programs in his career, first for a redshirt season at Marshall in 2011 and then in the fall of 2012 at ECU. In the past three years, he hasn’t looked like a walk-on at all, earning all-conference accolades in 2013 (honorable mention), 2014 (second team) and 2015 (first team). As a fullback in the Pirates’ offense as a sophomore and junior, Williams used his 6-6, 250-pound frame to its fullest in the red zone (four touchdowns), out-leaping smaller defensive backs to attack the ball in the air. As a senior, Williams has been used more regularly as an all-around receiving threat, finishing second on the team with 58 receptions for 588 yards and four scores.
PRO DAY RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.86 seconds
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Big target who plays to his size in the passing game. Consistent arm extension as a pass catcher with a smooth pluck and tuck approach. Makes catches with defenders draped all over him and is willing to secure the throw and take the lick in the middle of a field. Consistent high-point catcher with excellent ball tracking and concentration downfield. Quick first five strides off line of scrimmage and into his routes. Sneaky fast in the seam and can surprise complacent safeties who sleep on him. Adjusts to scrambling quarterbacks by freeing himself and becoming a moving target. Not overly shifty in open spaces as runner, but will gain additional yardage by leaning into tacklers and finishes his catches. Even without having dog in him as a blocker, has the frame to offer some effective resistance to smaller would-be tacklers.
WEAKNESSES
More straight-line speed than fluid movement along his routes. Gives away direction of his patterns with early head turns. Still running raw, sloppy routes that need work. Just out running in space at times. Gets caught drifting at top of crossing routes allowing safeties to squeeze him. Needs to play with consistent play speed. Finesse, positional run blocker relying on overall size over assertiveness and desire and grit. As a move blocker, ducks head into block and absorbs more of the contact than he doles out.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Rounds 6 or 7
NFL COMPARISON
Gavin Escobar
BOTTOM LINE
Williams added 13 pounds of muscle onto his frame last summer and it offered no visible drain on overall athleticism or speed. As a blocker, Williams needs more toughness and attitude to go with his size, but as a pass catcher, he has the tools and field-stretching potential that offensive coordinators are looking for. Williams wont be every teams cup of tight end coffee, but for teams looking for a matchup tight end, he will be intriguing.
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The Journey Of Bryce Williams
East Carolina Pirates tight end Bryce Williams is not just any player.
The 6-6, 258 pound senior tight end from Winston-Salem, North Carolina took a college route that you rarely ever see while showing off his sheer will to become a success story.
Williams’ story started after his high school career ended. He was an all-conference, NDHS Offensive MVP and Winston-Salem Journal All-Northwest (honorable mention) honoree as a senior and junior. He caught 41 passes for 848 yards and seven touchdown in 2010 as a senior.
Months later, he was on the campus of the Marshall Thundering Herd as an invited walk-on, not as a scholarship player. After making the team, Williams stayed with Marshall for his freshman year, a year that he was redshirted. For the tight end, just making a team was not enough as he also wanted to make an impact.
With a big decision about his future to be made, Williams decided to come back home and play for the program that his parents and older brother attended: East Carolina. Being a walk-on at Marshall meant that he could transfer and immediately play for the Pirates.
So, for the second time in two seasons, the tight end joined an FBS program as a walk-on. He made the team, but was unable to earn any playing time as a redshirt freshman.
After spending a year in the program, Williams broke into the lineup in 2013 and surprised everyone. His sophomore season saw him find playing time as a bit of a fullback/tight end hybrid, earning play in all 13 games with one start. The sophomore made 20 catches for 220 yards and five touchdowns. At the end of the year, Williams was honored as the Pirates’ most improved skill player-of-the-year.
2014 saw Williams continue his excellent play with a Second-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection. The junior made five starts in 13 games played for the record breaking ECU offense. While continuing to play both tight end and fullback. He caught 18 passes for 237 yards, including a catch in ten of the last 11 games of the season.
Making the full time move to tight end for the 2015 season, Williams became the first East Carolina player to be selected to the John Mackey Award Watch List. Williams was was also named to preseason All-American Athletic Conference squads by Phil Steele Magazine (first-team) and Athlon Sports (second-team).
So far, Williams has not disappointed with 53 catches for 549 yards and three touchdowns on the season. His numbers are among the best in the nation at that position. The ability of Williams to put up those numbers despite the extreme uncertainty at quarterback for the Pirates is downright amazing.
Not only has Williams been consistently good all season long, he put forth his best performances versus the toughest of competition. Versus the stingy defense of Florida, Williams caught nine passes for 83 yards. The Gators struggled all night to find a way to stop the 6-6 tight end. Playing against BYU, Williams’ ability to dwarf defensive backs was evident with five catches for 87 yards.
Williams has impressed the college football world with his play, but he has also attracted attention from the NFL world. Williams was recently invited to play in the Senior Bowl, the biggest college football all-star game for potential NFL prospects.
The tight end is currently projecting as a mid-round draft pick and one of the top five tight ends available. From a two-time walk on to an NFL future, the story of Bryce Williams is something to behold.
The Panthers also named their 10-man practice squad on Sunday: running back Jalen Simmons, wide receiver Keyarris Garrett, tight end Beau Sandland, guard David Yankey, defensive end Larry Webster, defensive tackle Eric Crume, linebacker Brian Blechen, cornerback Zack Sanchez and safeties Marcus Ball and Travell Dixon.
If you add TE Bryce Williams that makes 11, which can’t right.
So I suspect that the reports out there saying they signed Dixon and Blechen are not correct.
LOS ANGELES – The Rams added the following players to their practice squad, the team announced Monday. Los Angeles currently has 10 players on its practice squad.
DB Blake Countess (Auburn)
DB Isaiah Johnson (Georgia Tech)
TE Bryce Williams (East Carolina)
Los Angeles Rams 10-man practice squad:
T Isaiah Battle (Clemson)
LB Brandon Chubb (Wake Forest)
DB Blake Countess (Auburn)
DE Morgan Fox (Colorado State Pueblo)
RB Aaron Green (TCU)
DB Isaiah Johnson (Georgia Tech) (note: this is the newest guy & brings them to 10)
DB Michael Jordan (Missouri Western)
RB Terrence Magee (LSU)
Johnson went undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft. He was signed by the Detroit Lions before spring training for a $12,000 signing bonus. He was among the final cuts of spring training in 2015, but was signed off the practice squad on November 14 of that year.
On September 3, 2016, Johnson was waived by the Lions.
ISAIAH JOHNSON, SS
SCHOOL: GEORGIA TECH
COLLEGE EXPERIENCE: SENIOR
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1 / 202 LBS.
STRENGTHS
Productive tackler and three-year starter. All-time leader in Georgia Tech history in tackles for a defensive back with 283. When in position, will make square, physical hits to end the play. Comes from high to low quickly and under control. Uses length to close down running lanes toward sidelines. Monitors quarterback’s eyes from zone coverage and shows discipline in his coverage. Outstanding work ethic. Great student on and off field with his master’s in building and facility management.
WEAKNESSES
Slow twitch. Lacking athleticism to be consistent factor in space. Can be a step slow to find proper angle for downhill tackle, missing 12 in 2014. Gets preoccupied with receiver and doesn’t maintain enough focus on running plays developing. Slow lateral transition, allowing separation for receivers. Feet get too heavy when asked to fire on throws and close the distance.
DRAFT PROJECTION Priority free agent
BOTTOM LINE
Played in space and near the line of scrimmage, but he’s best suited in a role that limits what is asked of him from a coverage standpoint. His intelligence, work ethic and play demeanor will all work in his favor, but his lack of functional speed and athleticism will not.
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Agamemnon
