Michigan State's Charles Brantley, taking risks, gaining rewards: 'I've grown tremendously'

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Charles Brantley diagnosed the play before anyone else. The Michigan State cornerback saw Maryland tight end Dylan Wade begin to pull from the right side to the left. When Wade turned and came back the other way, toward Brantley’s side of the field, Brantley instantly broke toward the eventual point of attack. He was ahead of the flow. This was before Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather had even received the handoff on a reverse. It was the first snap of Maryland’s second drive. Maryland had already driven for a touchdown and taken a 7-0 lead. Now it was 7-7. The Terps had sprung receivers open deep on four occasions on the opening drive, including one on Brantley’s watch.  Now, the first play of the second drive needed to be a tone-setter. Michigan State had backed out of the press coverage the Spartans showed, unsuccessfully, on the opening drive.  Brantley and his four defensive back mates were in off, cover-four zone. You could say it was a soft, conservative look. But there was nothing conservative about the way Brantley sniped this play. (More).