MSU's Charles Brantley Withdraws From Transfer Portal
After a tumultuous final day of the spring transfer window, Mel Tucker and Michigan State football got some much-needed good news on Tuesday when junior cornerback Charles Brantley withdrew his name from the transfer portal.
He will remain with the Spartans for the 2023 season.
Brantley was one of three Michigan State starters who entered the transfer portal on April 30, the final day of the spring window. The cornerback's decision came after incumbent starting quarterback Payton Thorne and star wide receiver Keon Coleman entered the portal earlier in the day.
Thorne and Coleman have not yet made their transfer decisions.
Upon entering the portal, Brantley received an immediate offer from Colorado and its new head coach Deion Sanders. The junior later reported an offer from Oklahoma. After considering those schools, Brantley ultimately chose remain at MSU after talks with Tucker, new cornerbacks coach Jim Salgado and others in East Lansing.
Even with Brantley's return, the Spartans could still seek to add another cornerback from transfer portal. MSU returns fifth-year seniors Chester Kimbrough and Justin White, as well as redshirt junior Marqui Lowery and sophomore Dillon Tatum at the position. The Spartans also added Wisconsin transfer Semar Melvin this offseason, who recorded 16 tackles and three pass breakups across 23 appearances with the Badgers.
Redshirt freshman Ade Willie and three-star true freshman Caleb Coley (No. 456 overall player in 2023 class) could factor into Michigan State's cornerback rotation this season as well. Coley enrolled early with the Spartans and went through spring practice with the team.
Brantley appeared in eight games at cornerback for Michigan State during his freshman season in 2021, earning his first start in Week 9 against Purdue. Unfortunately, the then-freshman suffered a season-ending injury against the Boilermakers. Brantley finished his first collegiate season with 18 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder started all 11 games he played as a sophomore last season, missing only the season-finale vs. Penn State due to injury. Brantley led Michigan State in pass breakups with seven, and recorded the only interception by a Spartan defensive back in 2022, which he returned for a touchdown against Ohio State. The sophomore finished seventh on the team with 48 tackles, including one QB sack.
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