Michigan State football: 3 breakout candidates on defense for 2022

Everyone remembers Charles Brantley from the Michigan game in which he picked off the game-clinching pass from Cade McNamara late in the fourth quarter. That interception was the first of his career and it came at the most clutch possible moment. The stadium erupted after that and he gained a ton of respect.

Unfortunately, he missed the rest of the season with an injury. He played in just six games as a true freshman, but he showed flashes of being a really good cornerback.

While Michigan State’s secondary was torched on a weekly basis a year ago, Brantley never looked completely overmatched and he also didn’t lack confidence. That’s continued this offseason and I can see him taking over as a starter across from Ameer Speed or even as the first backup behind Ronald Williams. He’s going to see the field extensively this year.

My favorites to start right now are Speed and Williams but with a guy like Brantley coming off the bench, I think he actually plays himself into a large role with his lockdown capabilities.

Brantley had 18 tackles, four pass breakups, and that Michigan win-clinching pick in six games last year and he’s going to build on that in a big way.