Michigan State football DB Justin Denson Jr. working on matters outside of football

On Monday, Jonathan Smith spoke to the media to preview Minnesota and recap the recent 20-31 loss to Michigan. During the availability, the Michigan State football head coach was asked about the availability of sophomore defensive back Justin Denson Jr.

Denson entered the program as the No. 771 prospect nationally, committing over offers from Florida, Alabama, and Oklahoma, among others. He stuck the course with the Spartans despite the Mel Tucker firing, and enrolled alongside the rest of Jonathan Smith’s first class.

Denson was a player expected to “make the leap” in the secondary this year, following a true freshman season where he split reps with Jaylen Thompson (who has since transferred to Memphis) in place of an injured Malik Spencer for the last three games of the season. Denson played 45 snaps over the first three games of the season, but has not seen the field since.

He travelled out with the team to Los Angeles and Lincoln for the USC and Nebraska contests, but did not see the field. He did not travel for the Indiana game, and was the only player on the roster of over 100 players not seen on the sidelines during the loss to Michigan.

When asked about his status heading into the Minnesota game, Smith gave a short response.

“He’s working with some things outside of football right now,” Smith said.

Following the press conference, an MSU spokesperson differed all comments about Denson and his status on the roster to Smith’s single sentence on the status of the sophomore. As of 2:30 p.m. EST, Denson’s player page remains on the Michigan State football website.

In summary, it is unknown if the sophomore defensive back is with the program, practicing with the program, or anything of the like. All that is known, via Smith, is there is a matter outside of football for the sophomore.

This could mean two things. Either it can be taken at face value, with the Rhode Island native working on personal matters, or that he may be a player pursuing the transfer portal once the window opens in about two months.

No Justin Denson Jr. could be problematic for the future of the secondary

There is a multi-faceted issue with the Spartans missing Justin Denson Jr. On top of being down another defensive back, it also gives the Spartans very little future depth. Through eight games, the only Spartans to play safety with eligibility in 2026 are Denson and redshirt junior Aveon Grose.

Grose played in place of Malik Spencer during the Indiana game following an undisclosed injury, alongside a singular snap in the Homecoming loss to UCLA. Besides that, it has been all seniors in the back two spots in the secondary.

The immediate future for Jonathan Smith does not look bright, and it appears the secondary also has concerns for the future heading into 2026.