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Michigan State players to have charges dropped from Michigan tunnel incident, per report

Keith Farner

By Keith Farner

Published:

The Michigan State players charged with misdemeanor assault for their roles in a post-game tunnel incident at Michigan are in line to have the charges dropped.

Defensive ends Itayvion “Tank” Brown and Brandon Wright and defensive backs Angelo Grose and Justin White entered into a pre-plea diversionary program on Friday morning in Ann Arbor’s 15th District Court, MLive reported.

“The result here for our clients is a no-brainer because this case will be dismissed,” said Wade Fink, who is Brown’s lawyer. “In order to get a dismissal, they’re being asked to do things they would already do – charity and be in the community and be great citizens, which they already are. None of these kids are guilty of anything and if it was a situation where we couldn’t earn a dismissal for basically what we do anyway, then we would have fought it. This splits the difference here of getting out there and doing some good things in the world and also earning a dismissal without ever having to admit something they didn’t do.”

The 4 players were charged in November with misdemeanor aggravated assault for the actions in the tunnel following a 29-7 loss at Michigan on Oct. 29. They were among those who were captured on video striking Michigan defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Michigan Stadium will have adjustments regarding the makeup of the tunnel following issues stemming from the 2022 season. That came after fans were close enough to touch coaches and players as one did last season with Michigan State’s Mel Tucker long before the postgame altercation between Spartans and Wolverines players that led to suspensions and criminal charges.

Keith Farner

Keith Farner has written about college football for newspapers and web sites since 2005.