Skip to main content
Michigan State

Michigan State linebacker Darius Snow withdraws from transfer portal

On3 imageby: Jake Lyskawa12/07/23jakelyskawa
Michigan State linebacker Darius Snow
Nick King - USA TODAY Sports

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State linebacker Darius Snow announced via social media on Wednesday that he will withdraw from the transfer portal and return to East Lansing for his redshirt senior season. 

Snow entered the portal on Nov. 27, becoming the first Michigan State player to do so following the 2023 season. After conversing with his family and new head football coach Jonathan Smith, however, Snow decided to withdraw his name from the portal. 

“All I’ve ever wanted to accomplish in college is getting a degree while playing at the highest level and set myself up for the future, on and off the field,” Snow said in a statement released to Twitter. “Over the past four years I’ve experienced just about everything that you can in college football, but unfortunately I’ve had to watch more than I could do because of several factors, primarily injury.

“For reasons not worth bringing up, I decided to enter the transfer portal when the season concluded and did so. This decision, however, was made before giving coach Smith and company the chance they deserve. As aforementioned, with everything I’ve went through in my time here, I wouldn’t be doing myself justice either (by) leaving without (giving Smith and company a chance).”

Snow – a native of Frisco, Tex. – suffered a serious lower body injury during the first half of Michigan State’s 2022 season opener against Western Michigan. He sat out the remainder of the season.

Snow spent the subsequent offseason recovering and rehabbing, with the hopes of returning to the field sometime during the 2023 season. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Snow did just that, returning for Michigan State’s week three matchup against Washington. Snow played the next three games before sitting out the remainder of the season. 

“Since Sept. 2, 2022, I’ve encountered more hardships than I ever had in my life, and if I’m being honest, I struggled with how to deal with it,” Snow said. “I lost relationships, some for the better – while some I wish I hadn’t, and life-long goals for some time no longer felt achievable. Worst off, I could not play football for most of that time and wasn’t completely healthy when I could.”

Now healthier, Snow looks forward to contributing next season.

“I’m proud to say that I’ve now completely recovered from the injuries that have plagued my career to this point, and I look forward to building on the work that was put in to get to where I am today,” Snow said. “I can’t speak to what the future holds, but I can guarantee that I will attack it head-first as I always have.”

Snow, the son of former Michigan State basketball player Eric Snow and nephew of former Spartan linebacker Percy Snow, committed to former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio ahead of the 2020 season. A former three-star recruit from Carrollton (Tex.) Hebron High School, Snow was the No. 31 safety prospect and No. 59 player from Texas in his class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. 

Snow began his career as a defensive back, alternating between safety and nickel. He played six games on special teams as a freshman in 2020 before earning an increased role in 2021. The graphic design major played in all 13 games that season, starting eight at nickel back.

Nick King – USA TODAY Sports

You may also like