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Michigan State Football: Post-spring 2-deep depth chart predictions for 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Jalen Nailor, left, runs to the sideline with teammates during the spring football game on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210424 Msu Spring Game 033a
Michigan State's Jalen Nailor, left, runs to the sideline with teammates during the spring football game on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210424 Msu Spring Game 033a /
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Michigan State defensive backs Xavier Henderson (3) and Kendell Brooks go through drills during the spring game Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.Msu Spring
Michigan State defensive backs Xavier Henderson (3) and Kendell Brooks go through drills during the spring game Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.Msu Spring /

Secondary

Starting cornerbacks: Ronald Williams, Chester Kimbrough
Backups: Khary Crump, Kalon Gervin

I’m having a tough time predicting this one, but I truly believe Mel Tucker brought in five new cornerbacks for the sole reason of completely replacing his starters from last year. Gone is Shakur Brown and returning is Kalon Gervin, but I think the latter is going to get quite the push from Ronald Williams (Alabama) and Chester Kimbrough (Florida).

A couple of SEC cornerback transfers? Not too shabby.

But I also wouldn’t be shocked if Gervin took that next step and earned the starting job over one of the SEC transfers and I could see Kendell Brooks (D-II), Khary Crump (Arizona), and Marqui Lowery (Louisville) battling it out for the other backup spot. Right now, I give a slight advantage to Crump.

Starting safeties: Xavier Henderson, Michael Dowell
Backups: Darius Snow, Emmanuel Flowers

Xavier Henderson returns as the leader of the defense and he could be in for an All-Big Ten season and I’m going with a fellow veteran in Michael Dowell alongside him. These two could be surprising stars for the Spartans and could combine for one of the best safety duos in the conference.

But honestly, I’m all in on Darius Snow who could push Dowell for that starting job. The staff can’t go wrong with either one. And then there’s Emmanuel Flowers who has been in East Lansing for a while and has been waiting for his turn.

Starting nickelback: Angelo Grose
Backup: Darius Snow OR Michael Dowell

I bet you were all wondering why Angelo Grose wasn’t on the depth chart at cornerback and that’s because the sophomore defensive back fits that role of nickelback in Scottie Hazelton’s 4-2-5 scheme. I could also see Snow play the backup role here when he’s not fighting for a starting safety job. Dowell is also an option here.

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