Michigan State Football: 3 freshmen who could start in 2021

We are less than two months away from the start of the 2021 season and that means Michigan State football fans get to speculate just how second-year coach Mel Tucker will fare after a “normal” offseason.

Unlike last offseason, Tucker actually had a spring to work with and he actually swapped out some of Mark Dantonio’s roster for his own guys in the transfer portal and via the 2021 class.

In that 2021 class of his, there are some talented players even though the group ranked just 45th nationally. A few of them could even start right away.

It’s not unusual for freshmen to start, especially with so much opportunity, but which three first-year players have the best chance of winning a starting job this season for Michigan State?

You might be slightly surprised to see AJ Kirk here, but he is constantly overlooked in the 2021 class and I’m not exactly sure why that is.

Kirk came to Michigan State as the No. 46 safety in the 2021 class and the No. 590 overall recruit, turning down offers from the likes of Arizona State, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and even home-state Ohio State (where his brother Mike Doss played) to become a Spartan.

That type of offer sheet is usually reserved for four-star recruits and I think that’s exactly what Kirk is, especially if you watch his highlights. He has all the tools to be a star defender.

Michigan State may have been a little thin on defense before Mel Tucker dipped into the portal and brought in the 2021 recruiting class, but Kirk seems like the perfect player to eventually take over that nickel position which is a safety/linebacker hybrid.

Expectations for Kirk should be high and we could see what he’s capable of in year one.