Michigan State DT Derrick Harmon enters transfer portal
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State redshirt junior defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has re-entered the transfer portal, per On3 national reporter Pete Nakos. Harmon has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Harmon (6-5, 320) first entered the portal when the winter window opened on Dec. 4. He visited Auburn, Oregon and Ohio State during his first stay in the portal, but opted to return to Michigan State on Dec. 27. Harmon spent the spring in East Lansing and participated in the Spartans’ Spring Showcase on April 20.
Harmon will now go through the portal process again, with teams across the country in need of high-level defensive tackles.
The Detroit native spent three seasons at Michigan State after committing to Mel Tucker as part of the program’s 2021 class. Harmon totaled 71 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 28 career games with the Spartans.
Harmon appeared in all 12 games last season, including 10 starts. He logged a career-high 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season as a redshirt sophomore.
Harmon started five of his 12 games played as a redshirt freshman in 2022. He recorded 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks that season.
Harmon played in four games in 2021 to preserve his redshirt.
A former three-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Loyola High School, Harmon was the No. 987 player in his class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also the No. 78 defensive lineman and No. 30 player from Michigan in his class.
Michigan State will now look to replenish its defensive tackle room after losing Harmon and fellow starting defensive tackle Simeon Barrow to the transfer portal this spring. The Spartans still have veteran Maverick Hansen, Georgia Tech transfer D’Quan Douse, redshirt sophomore Alex VanSumeren and walk-on Ben Nelson, among others, in the room. True freshman defensive tackle Mikeshun Beeler will join the team this summer.
Michigan State has already offered former Rutgers defensive tackle Rene Konga. Konga played in 21 career games with the Scarlet Knights, racking up 14 career tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. He played in 10 games this past season, logging eight tackles and a strip sack.
The Spartans have also offered defensive linemen Eddie Kelly (Georgia Tech), Anthony Johnson (Illinois) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin) in an attempt to shore up the defensive line as a whole.
Harmon joins running back Davion Primm, defensive end Andrew Depaepe, offensive lineman Braden Miller, wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr., defensive back Sean Brown, defensive back Eddie Pleasant, running back Jaelon Barbarin, Barrow, linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote and defensive back Marqui Lowery as Michigan State players who have entered the portal during the spring window, which is open until April 30.
More coverage and analysis to come at SpartanMag.com.
