Michigan State football: Derrick Harmon reportedly considering a return

According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Michigan State football is still an option for defensive tackle transfer Derrick Harmon.

In today’s day and age, it’s not uncommon to see players enter the transfer portal only to withdraw and return to their original school. Sometimes they just want to see what NIL deals are out there. Derrick Harmon did just that with Michigan State football back in the winter.

And he could reportedly do it again.

Harmon entered the portal shortly after Jonathan Smith was hired before deciding to return to Michigan State. He went through offseason workouts and spring practices only to enter the portal again in April. But according to a report from Steve Wiltfong of On3, Harmon is still considering a return to Michigan State.

Colorado, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and a return to Michigan State are on the table for DL transfer Derrick Harmon, per On3's @SWiltfong_ & @PeteNakos_👀

Intel: https://t.co/B0LnYUIQWb pic.twitter.com/ObSo2Xd8En

— On3 (@On3sports) May 2, 2024

Wiltfong also states that Colorado, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC are the other options. So he’ll either return to Michigan State, play for Deion Sanders, or stay in the Big Ten as a regular foe for the Spartans.

It’s been quite the roller-coaster trying to keep up with Harmon. He was expected to visit Miami with former teammate Simeon Barrow but he canceled that trip and checked out some West Coast schools instead. While no one knows where he’s going to land, the NIL deal he had in place at Michigan State was one of the most competitive in the country. For him to pass that up to play elsewhere was shocking.

But if he did decide to return, there’s just no way the staff can offer him the same deal. You can’t decide to transfer two times in the same offseason and return twice just to use it as leverage. I’d like to think Smith is better than that.

Either way, if Harmon does decide to return, the interior of the defensive line would be one of the best in the Big Ten. If he doesn’t, Michigan State football will have to look elsewhere in the portal.