Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon withdraws from portal, remains a Spartan
East Lansing, Mich. – A bright day for Michigan State in the college football transfer portal became even sunnier on Wednesday when defensive tackle Derrick Harmon withdrew and issued plans to return to the Spartans for the 2024 season.
Harmon, arguably the most valuable of Michigan State’s 24 scholarship players who entered the transfer portal, is the seventh of those players to withdraw and remain a Spartan.
He joined offensive guard Geno VanDeMark, who officially withdrew from the portal on Wednesday with intentions to remain enrolled in January.
Harmon (6-5, 320, Detroit Loyola) started all 12 games at defensive tackle in 2023 as a redshirt-sophomore. He started five game as a redshirt-freshman in 2022.
Harmon ranked eighth on the team, and first among defensive linemen, in tackles with 40.
Sources told SpartanMag.com on Tuesday night that things had swung positively for Michigan State in its bid to retain Harmon, and that Harmon would be returning to the Spartans in 2023. That information was posted on SpartanMag’s Underground Bunker message board by SpartanMag publisher Jim Comparoni.
Sources tell SpartanMag that Harmon had significant interest from several Power Five programs, including some in the Southeastern Conference. Ohio State, Oregon and Auburn were among the schools showing serious interest, which Harmon reciprocated.
Harmon, Simeon Barrow, Maverick Hansen and sophomore Alex VanSumeren will be enrolled in January and in line to return to the Spartans in 2024. Hansen has a sixth year of eligibility remaining and sources to SpartanMag that structure is in place for him to return to the Spartans for the coming season.
Defensive lineman Ken Talley is also in the picture at the defensive tackle position. He began last season as a defensive end but moved to defensive tackle at mid-year due to depth problems at the position.
DeAndre Butler, who transferred to Michigan State from Liberty last year, remains in the portal. He played three games in 2023 before being lost to an injury. Butler has received attention in the portal from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Florida Atlantic. Michigan State’s interest in Butler remains unclear.
Harmon is the seventh Spartan Scholarship player to withdraw from the portal and announce plans to return to Michigan State, joining offensive tackle Brandon Baldwin, offensive tackle Ethan Boyd, linebacker Darius Snow, offensive guard Kristian Phillips and wide receiver Jaron Glover.
Six Spartan scholarship players are still in the portal and uncommitted: tight end Maliq Carr, defensive end Zion Young, cornerback Charles Brantley, linebacker Jacoby Windmon, defensive end Khris Bogle, defensive tackle Deandre Butler and linebacker Quavian Carter.
Carter entered the portal earlier this week. In two years on the roster, he never saw the field with the Spartans.
New head coach Jonathan Smith said the Spartans are working to get some of the players in the portal to return to Michigan State. Sources tell SpartanMag that the Spartans are making strong progress in getting Windmon to return to MSU. MSU has also improved its chances with Young in recent days.
