“It's actually a drill that we do, me and coach (Dantonio) were just talking about it, it’s a drill we always do," Gervin said after practice on Tuesday. "I should’ve just taken my shot. Even if I missed he would have went back into where everybody else was. So, it's a lot to learn."

It was a lot to learn because Gervin, out of Detroit, was making his first-career start. Under the lights, in The Horseshoe and against one of, if not, the, most talented wide receiver groups MSU's defense will see this season.

“It was a big game, man. Real loud," Gervin said. "It was my first game starting, so it was real.”

Despite the mistake that Gervin recognized after watching the film, there was a lot of good that he could take away heading into Saturday's game against No. 8 Wisconsin (3:30 p.m., BTN).

“He’s not happy with how he played, which, I’m glad he’s that competitive, that type of kid," Michigan State Defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel said. "It's hard when you go in there and the first game you play 70 snaps, or whatever it was, is against a team as talented as Ohio State, and certainly their receiving corps is really good. He showed some good things. I mean, I’m excited about his talent level. He’s an intelligent kid. But, we all know he can play better than that.” 

Gervin got the start at cornerback because senior Josh Butler was limited due to an injury. Butler saw time at special teams but Dantonio said that he didn't want to "put him at corner and have something happen."

So, Gervin was forced to line up against one of the many downfield threats for Ohio State. Saturday night's game against the Buckeyes was a mixed bag for Gervin. Victor beat him down the field earlier in the game, but luckily for Gervin, dropped a would-be touchdown catch in stride. He missed a tackle with a chance to stop OSU running back J.K. Dobbins before he was able to gain 13 yards.

And then he missed the big one, which allowed Victor have a chance to dive into the end zone for the Buckeyes' first touchdown of the game.

“I thought Gervin did a nice job, but you got to tackle better," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said Sunday night on his phone conference. "Missed a tackle on the big, long one, and it’s something that we work on daily, tackling. You can’t stop your feet in the middle of the field, in the deep part of the field. You can’t stop your feet and come to gather when the guy is running full speed at you. So, that 20-yard gain became a 60-yard gain, or whatever it was. That just can’t happen.” 

This week, Butler was listed as the starter ahead of MSU's game against the Badgers. But if he can't go, Dantonio still has the confidence in his young cornerback.

“It’s his first time playing extensively like this," Dantonio said of Gervin. "He’s a good player, he’s got great speed. I think he’s one of our better tacklers, but it’s his first time out there. High intensity-type environment and with a lot on the line, so you have to give him a little bit of learning curve on those things.” 

And now, after his first start, Gervin is starting to gain belief in himself as well.

“Just build confidence," Gervin said. "That's what it is about, just building confidence. Another thing me and coach (Dantonio) talked about, just building confidence even though it was against Ohio State my first start, it's just understanding you got nothing to do but to build confidence.”