Michigan State junior starting cornerback Charles Brantley has made the decision to remain with the Spartans for the upcoming season, according to a team spokesman. This marks the second time this year that Brantley has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal.

Standing at 6-foot-0 and weighing 170 pounds, Brantley has displayed his skills on the field over the past three seasons, despite battling injuries. In his career, he has recorded 76 tackles, including three for a loss, one sack, two interceptions, and 11 pass break-ups. The Florida native, who originally signed with Michigan State's 2021 recruiting class as a three-star prospect, still has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Following the hiring of new head coach Jonathan Smith on November 25, there has been a significant exodus of players entering the transfer portal. However, Brantley is among the eight players from that group who have chosen to remove their names and continue with the Spartans. Linebacker Darius Snow, wide receiver Jaron Glover, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, and offensive linemen Ethan Boyd, Geno VanDeMark, Brandon Baldwin, and Kristian Phillips are the other players who have opted to stay with the team.

One of Brantley's standout moments came during his freshman year when he sealed a victory for the Spartans with a crucial interception against the University of Michigan. As a sophomore, he started all 11 games he appeared in, amassing a career-high 48 tackles and even returning an interception for a touchdown.

Earlier this year, Brantley briefly entered the transfer portal after spring practice but decided to withdraw his name just two days later. He started the first three games of the current season before suffering an injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the year. However, with only three appearances, Brantley can potentially take a redshirt for the season.

During Brantley's absence, sophomore Dillon Tatum and true freshman Chance Rucker stepped up as Michigan State's primary cornerbacks. In the midst of exploring his options, Brantley entered the transfer portal earlier this month but ultimately chose to stay in East Lansing.

As of now, there are still several Spartans players in the transfer portal who have yet to announce a transfer destination, including Dre Butler, Zion Young, Khris Bogle, Jacoby Windmon, Maliq Carr, Michael O'Shaughnessy, and Sebastian Brown.

This decision by Brantley provides a boost to the Michigan State football program, as they retain a talented and experienced cornerback for the upcoming season.