Michigan State Football: Who will be the Spartans’ next Shakur Brown?

Shakur Brown was Mel Tucker’s first real breakout star at Michigan State, going from lightly-used in the Mark Dantonio era to correctly-used under the new staff.

Everyone knew Brown had all the talent to be an all-conference cornerback, but he hadn’t quite put it all together until the new staff, and Harlon Barnett, came to town. He immediately became a starter in 2020 and pieced together his best season as a Spartan, racking up 25 tackles, five interceptions, and four pass breakups.

This was quite the COVID-19-shortened junior season after he recorded just 29 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups in 14 games over the two previous seasons.

The fact that he only had one true All-Big Ten-caliber season may have been the reason Brown went undrafted in 2021, but he proved he was capable of being a lockdown corner. Plus, he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Now that he’s gone, however, Michigan State will have to find the next lockdown corner and breakout star in the secondary.

Who will it be in 2021?

Who will be Michigan State football’s breakout CB in 2021?

Following the 2020 season, a number of cornerbacks transferred out of the program who could have assumed this “breakout” role in 2021: Chris Jackson, Julian Barnett, Davion Williams.

That left the Spartans with only a couple of options: an incoming recruit like Charles Brantley or Kalon Gervin. Angelo Grose was set to play the nickel role so he wouldn’t be considered a breakout option at corner even though he’s likely to have a big season.

And then Tucker reeled in a handful of cornerback transfers. Chester Kimbrough (Florida), Kendell Brooks (Division II), Khary Crump (Arizona), Ronald Williams (Alabama), and Marqui Lowery (Louisville) all transferred in. That gave this team a number of options for the next breakout star at cornerback and I think that the next Brown will be between Gervin, Kimbrough, and Williams.

Williams was one of the top JUCO transfers in the country before choosing Alabama and played in just a couple of games for the national champs before transferring, Kimbrough had 15 career tackles and three pass breakups in two years at Florida and was a borderline four-star recruit, and Gervin is following a very similar career path like the one Brown had before his breakout.

In fact, Gervin has had 30 tackles and four pass breakups in his first two years at MSU and Brown had 29 tackles, two picks, and four pass breakups. It would only be right if he followed in Brown’s footsteps.

Michigan State has plenty of options, but if you’re looking for a breakout star at cornerback a-la Shak Brown, keep an eye on Gervin, Kimbrough, and Williams.