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Another Michigan State Starter Withdraws From Transfer Portal

The Spartans regain another potential starter who had previously entered the transfer portal this season...
Matthew Lounsberry|
Another Michigan State Starter Withdraws From Transfer Portal
Another Michigan State Starter Withdraws From Transfer Portal

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Michigan State Spartans

After losing a wave of players to the transfer portal early this offseason, head coach Jonathan Smith and Michigan State football are starting to put some pieces back together.

On Friday, the Spartans re-added former starting cornerback Charles Brantley, who withdrew his name from the portal for the second time in this calendar year. The junior has two seasons of eligibility remaining at MSU.

Over the past three weeks, Smith and Michigan State have now retained eight players who initially entered the portal this season, including multiple guys who project as starters in 2024 — defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, right guard Geno VanDeMark, left tackle Brandon Baldwin and right tackle Ethan Boyd. Other portal withdrawals include linebacker Darius Snow, wide receiver Jaron Glover and offensive lineman Kristian Phillips.

Earlier this month, Brantley entered the transfer portal "just to open up my options", he noted on Twitter. It was his second time testing the portal waters in 2023, having also entered his name on the final day of the spring window back on April 30. Brantley later withdrew his name to remain at Michigan State, and started for the Spartans at cornerback in the first three games this past season.

In Week 3, Brantley suffered a season-ending injury early-on in MSU's 41-7 loss to Washington. In limited action this year, Brantley recorded 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and one pass breakup.

Despite the injury he sustained in September, Brantley is one of the most experienced players on Michigan State's roster. He appeared in eight games at cornerback for the Spartans 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.

As a sophomore in 2022, the 6-foot, 185-pounder started all 11 games he played in 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 that season, which he returned for a touchdown against Ohio State. Brantley finished the year seventh on the team with 48 tackles, including one QB sack.

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Matthew Lounsberry
MATTHEW LOUNSBERRY

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