EAST LANSING — After defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny announced that he would join coach Mel Tucker and the Michigan State Spartans in 2021, Brandon Baldwin, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle who played for Independence Community College (Independence, Kansas), became the 18th overall commit in the 2021 recruiting class.

I’m coming home!! @CoachCKap @RisingStars6 @IndyFBHC @Coach_Landgren #GoGreen #dreamU pic.twitter.com/KLTuzTw8eC

— Brandon Baldwin (@Big_b_53) November 9, 2020

Baldwin is rated by 247Sports as the No. 4 junior college offensive tackle in the country as well as the No. 44 overall junior college prospect in the country. Baldwin is originally from Southfield and played high school ball at Southfield A&T. 

He spent time on the Independence scout team, but he did not appear in a regular-season game during his time there. Independence was one of countless smaller schools across the country that cancelled its football season due to COVID-19.

Baldwin is the second offensive tackle and fourth offensive lineman in the 2021 recruiting class. He is joined by offensive tackle Ethan Boyd (East Lansing, Mich.) and offensive guards Kevin Wigenton (Princeton, N.J.) and Geno VanDeMark (Montvale, N.J.). Both Baldwin and Boyd are 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive tackles who possess great length and quickness. 

On top of being offered by MSU, Baldwin held offers from Louisville, Maryland, Eastern Michigan, Liberty, Missouri State and Western Illinois.