Michigan State starting CB removes name from portal for second time this year

Charles Brantley removed his name from the transfer portal to remain with the Spartans, again.

The Michigan State junior starting cornerback is sticking with the program, a team spokesman confirmed on Friday. It’s the second time this year Brantley entered the portal then withdrawn.

Brantley, 6-foot-0 and 170 pounds, has 76 tackles, including three for a loss, one sack, two interceptions and 11 pass break-ups in 22 career games with 15 starts over three seasons while dealing with injuries. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Michigan State hired Jonathan Smith as its new coach on Nov. 25 and two dozen players have entered the portal since then. Brantley is the eighth from that group to remove their name and remain with the team, along with linebacker Darius Snow, wide receiver Jaron Glover, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and offensive linemen Ethan Boyd, Geno VanDeMark, Brandon Baldwin and Kristian Phillips.

Brantley is a former three-star prospect from Florida who signed with Michigan State’s 2021 recruiting class and carved out a role as a true freshman by playing in eight games with one start before being sidelined due to injury. His career highlight was a game-sealing interception against Michigan in a matchup between top-10 unbeaten teams.

As a sophomore, Brantley posted a career-high 48 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown while starting all 11 games he appeared in. He entered the portal after spring practice this year but removed his name two days later. Brantley started the first three games this season and had 10 tackles before suffering an injury and he didn’t play again the rest of the year. By appearing in only three games, he can take a redshirt for the season.

With Brantley out, sophomore Dillon Tatum and true freshman Chance Rucker were Michigan State’s primary cornerbacks during the season. Brantley entered the portal earlier this month “to open up my options” but is remaining in East Lansing.

The Spartans in the portal who haven’t pulled their name out or announced a transfer destination are defensive tackle Dre Butler, defensive ends Zion Young and Khris Bogle, linebacker Jacoby Windmon, tight end Maliq Carr, punter Michael O’Shaughnessy and receiver Sebastian Brown.