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Michigan State Football: Grading transfers during 2021 season

By Brandon Martinez

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 18: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Michigan State Spartans runs with the ball against the Miami Hurricanes on September 18, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. . (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 18: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Michigan State Spartans runs with the ball against the Miami Hurricanes on September 18, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. . (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s Chester Kimbrough, right, tackles Maryland’s Mike Sainristil during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211113 Msu Maryland 051a
Michigan State’s Chester Kimbrough, right, tackles Maryland’s Mike Sainristil during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.211113 Msu Maryland 051a /

Chester Kimbrough, CB, Junior

Stats (10 games): 40 tackles, 27 solos, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 3 pass deflections, 1 FF, 1 FR

On paper, this was arguably Mel Tucker’s best transfer pickups before the season started. With a very weak secondary in East Lansing this season, Chester Kimbrough was primed to take a starting position and had a chance to run with it.

The stats show one side of Kimbrough. He had a decent number of tackles, even spent some time in the backfield, came up with a takeaway, and forced and recovered a fumble. There was some good to Kimbrough’s season. However, if we dive deeper into the statistics and just watch some games, it tells a different side of the story.

Kimbrough had a great start to the season, allowing just 15 yards to Youngstown State after playing only three snaps against Northwestern. However, against Miami, he allowed 79 yards and a touchdown. For the rest of the season, it was a lot of the same story, allowing at least 78 yards in five games.

He did have good games against Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, and Maryland, surrendering fewer than 40 yards in each contest while picking off a pass versus the Cornhuskers and forcing a fumble against the Hoosiers.

Kimbrough had some good and bad games. However, with expectations being high and the secondary being as bad as it was this season, this wasn’t the season we had hoped from him. He has a lot of potential, and next season should only be better.

Final Grade: C

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