Michigan State Football: 3 breakout candidates on defense for 2021

Year one of Scottie Hazelton as Michigan State’s defensive coordinator didn’t exactly go as planned, especially with teams that had a pulse offensively, but there’s no way to go but up.

Hazelton returns some big names on this side of the ball such as Xavier Henderson, Jacub Panasiuk, and Kalon Gervin while also bringing in a handful of impressive transfers and freshmen. Guys like Quavaris Crouch, Drew Jordan, and Ben VanSumeren should have big impacts on the defensive side of the ball.

It’s time to get back to the basics and return the defense to its stingy self.

But which defensive players could break out this season and become household names for Spartan fans?

There were four newcomers for Michigan State that were named to 247Sports‘ top 150 transfers list and Itayvion Brown was one of them. The former four-star recruit was the second-highest ranked recruit in the 2020 class for Minnesota and he decided to transfer after his first collegiate season.

Michigan State’s new staff jumped at the opportunity to land him and bolster the linebacking corps as well as the edge-rushing department of the defense, and Brown committed in the spring.

Although he hadn’t enrolled during spring ball, he was talked about as a kid who could have a major impact on the defense as early as year one. I truly believe he could crack that two-deep at linebacker and become one of the better blitzers on the team with his athleticism and strong 6-3, 218-pound frame.

While he may not start right away because Quavaris Crouch has locked up one of the openings, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him overtake a guy like Noah Harvey by the end of the year.

I’m expecting big things from Brown in 2021.