SI All-American Candidate Charles Brantley Highlights and Evaluation

Charles Brantley is a cornerback prospect from Venice High School in Venice, Fla. Brantley is an SI All-American candidate.

Prospect: Charles Brantley
Status: SI All-American Candidate
Vitals: 6-foot, 160 pounds
Position: Cornerback
School: Venice (Fla.)
Committed to: Michigan State
Projected Position: Cornerback 

Frame: Slender. Narrow shoulders and waist. Long arms. Spindly, tightly-wound thighs and calves. Under-developed trunk. Ample room for much-needed muscle and mass. 

Athleticism: Exceptionally fluid. Quick, light feet; pops in and out of cuts with ease. Flexible hips and ankles. Good long speed, with a better burst. Outstanding hand-eye coordination. Lacks strength and power as a tackler. 

Instincts: Elite anticipation in the defensive backfield. Always around the ball; collected eight interceptions as a junior, several off teammates’ deflections. Outstanding hand-eye coordination. Will bail on assignment to make an out-of-area play on the ball. 

Polish: High-level overall awareness in coverage. Effortless backpedal. Flips hips and sprints like college veterans. Must add weight and strength. Effective tackler in high school, but suspect fundamentals. 

Bottom Line: Brantley boasts a near-ideal combination of feet, ball skills and anticipation for a cornerback. Lack of size and strength may initially keep him on sidelines in East Lansing, but not for long. Projects as a quality multi-year starter for Spartans.