Michigan State football: What will Noah Harvey’s role be in 2021?

Following the 2020 regular season, it was clear that Michigan State football needed an upgrade at a few positions, but one was glaring, especially with some portal departures. The linebacking corps needed a boost, even in a 4-2-5 defensive scheme, and the coaching staff went out and knocked the transfer portal additions out of the park.

In fact, the Spartans landed Itayvion Brown from Minnesota, Ben VanSumeren from Michigan, and the crown jewel from the transfer class in Quavaris Crouch from Tennessee.

And Mel Tucker also addressed the linebacker position in the 2021 class, flipping Ma’a Gaoteote from USC as one of the best linebacker recruits in the country.

But some linebackers return with starting experience, including Noah Harvey who came to Michigan State as a borderline three-star recruit who decommitted from Bowling Green to pick the Spartans. He was barely ranked in the top 2,000 nationally and expectations were him were pretty low because, well, he flew under the radar in the 2017 class.

Fast forward to 2021 and Harvey is fresh off 103 tackles in the two previous seasons with 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. Not too bad for a former two-star prospect on 247Sports.

What might his role be with Crouch, Brown, Gaoteote, and VanSumeren joining the linebacker room in 2021?

Projecting Harvey’s role with Michigan State football in 2021

Harvey was a starter at linebacker for Michigan State last season, but I don’t see him holding off Crouch this season. Is he going to be in the two-deep? That’s also going to be a tough task, but his experience, production, and knowledge of the defense is going to keep him in the regular rotation.

My top starting options would be Crouch and Brown, but I could see a combination of the Tennessee transfer and VanSumeren and Harvey thrown into the mix as well.

Coming off a career year with 54 tackles and five tackles for loss in just seven games, I don’t expect Harvey to just fade into the background. He’s going to be a big part of this defense’s turnaround, but he won’t be doing it from a starting role.