MSU DTs Harmon, Barrow find new homes

Derrick Harmon appears to be staying in the Big Ten. Just not with Michigan State football.

The redshirt junior defensive tackle is transferring to Oregon, according to On3.com. The Spartans play the Ducks on Oct. 5 in Eugene, Oregon, for the first time as Big Ten opponents.

Later Friday evening, Harmon's fellow 2023 MSU starting defensive tackle Simeon Barrow tweeted that he has committed to play at Miami (Florida).

Harmon entered the transfer portal April 23 for the second time since November. The 6-foot-5, 320pound, former Detroit Loyola standout played in all 12 games last season with 10 starts, posting 40 tackles that included 11⁄2 sacks among his 31⁄2 stops for a loss. Harmon also had two QB hurries, forced a fumble and broke up a pass.

Like Harmon, Barrow also entered the transfer portal during the spring practices on April 18, his second time since Mel Tucker was fired in September, and was no longer listed on MSU's roster for the open workout at Spartan Stadium two days later. This time, the left MSU to play his fifth season in college for the Hurricanes after also being courted by LSU and Missouri.

Barrow initially submitted his name to transfer in late October but returned to the team two days later and did not miss a game during the Spartans' 4-8 season. Originally a Mark Dantonio recruit in the 2020 class, the 6-foot-3, 296-pound native of Grovetown, Georgia, earned AllBig Ten honorable mention last season and finished with 36 tackles, including 51⁄2 for lost yardage and 31⁄2 of those for sacks. He also had seven QB hurries from his interior line spot, forcing a fumble and blocking two kicks.

It’s commitment season on the college football calendar and the Michigan football train appears to be picking up steam and headed down the tracks.

The Wolverines added 2025 offensive lineman Avery Gach, the fourstar recruit from Birmingham Groves who made his commitment at a ceremony at his school on Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle chose the Wolverines directly over rival Ohio State and was also pursued by Michigan State, Alabama and Auburn, among others.

Gach is the No. 2 player in the state for his class according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. He’s behind only LSU-bound Belleville quarterback Bryce Underwood, who is the state’s top prospect overall according to consensus rankings. Gach is the No. 235 overall talent in the country and No. 15 among interior linemen.