Two more MSU defenders enter transfer portal

Simeon Barrow is once again looking to move on from Michigan State football.

The fifth-year senior defensive tackle entered the NCAA transfer portal Thursday for the second time in six months, a team spokesman confirmed. Barrow initially submitted his name to transfer in late October after coach Mel Tucker’s firing, but quickly withdrew it and returned to the team two days later. He played in the Spartans’ loss at Minnesota that Saturday and finishing out their 4-8 season.

Another MSU veteran, reserve cornerback Marqui Lowery Jr., announced via X he has entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. Lowery transferred to MSU from Louisville in 2021.

The oft-injured Barrow was at practice Tuesday but was not in pads, working instead with trainers away from MSU’s defense. Lowery was working with the Spartans’ cornerbacks during the 15-minute portion of practice open to the media.

The 6-foot-3, 296-pound native of Grovetown, Georgia, earned All-Big Ten honorable mention last season and finished with 36 tackles, including 51/2 for lost yardage and 31/2 for sacks. He also had seven QB hurries from his interior line spot, forcing a fumble and blocking two kicks.

Lowery played 48 defensive snaps at cornerback and 15 plays on special teams in MSU’s first three games last season before an injury shut him down. The 6-foot, 184-pound native of Charlotte, North Carolina, registered 22 tackles and a pass breakup in seven games in 2021, including 223 snaps at cornerback, and had three of his four tackles over five games in 2022 on special teams.

Barrow and Lowery are the third and fourth Spartans from the spring roster and sixth players from the 2023 team to enter the portal since it opened Tuesday.