Michigan State DT Simeon Barrow Jr. enters NCAA transfer portal for 2nd time in 6 months

Michigan State defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr. once again is testing the NCAA transfer portal waters. 

Barrow put his name in the portal for the second time in six months, a team spokesperson confirmed Thursday. 

Barrow's potential departure would be the biggest portal loss since Jonathan Smith took over as head coach at the end of last season. If he does in fact go, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle would finish his Michigan State career with 110 tackles, including 18.5 for loss yardage. He also recorded 10.5 sacks in his three seasons with the Spartans. 

Originally from Grovetown, Georgia, Barrow was recruited by Mark Dantonio and stayed committed to Michigan State after Mel Tucker took over in February 2020. Barrow sat out his freshman season because of the pandemic and since has been a starter in 30 of his 34 appearances. 

Barrow showed interest in potentially leaving Michigan State last season after Tucker was fired for cause in September. 

Barrow had numerous conversations with interim head coach Harlon Barnett about his future before deciding to enter the portal in October. He quickly changed his mind, though, and withdrew his name only two days later. He returned to the team and played in Michigan State’s Oct. 28 loss at Minnesota and saw the Spartans to a 4-8 record. 

Barrow recorded 36 tackles, including 5.5 for loss yardage and 3.5 sacks last season and has earned All-Big Ten honorable mention selections the past two years. 

On Tuesday, Smith lauded his defensive line as being one of the Spartans’ strengths with spring practice wrapping up this weekend with the team’s “Spring Showcase” on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Michigan State welcomed back Derrick Harmon and Maverick Hansen from last season and added graduate transfer Quindarius Dunnigan (Middle Tennessee State) and D’Quan Douse (Georgia Tech) to the mix. 

Barrow’s potential exit leaves a glaring hole now, though, in the Spartans’ front seven on defense.

Barrow is the third member of Michigan State’s spring roster who's entered the portal since it reopened this week. Defensive back Eddie Pleasant III and redshirt sophomore lineman Barden Miller also have decided to explore other opportunities.

Cornerback Marqui Lowery Jr. on Thursday announced on social media that he's also searching for a new team after entering the portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.

Lowery redshirted his lone season at Louisville before coming to Michigan State ahead of the 2021 season. He's appeared in 15 games over the last three seasons with the Spartans. In 2023, Lowery record four tackles and two pass breakups over the first three games before missing the final nine games with an undisclosed injury.

Running back Jaelon Barbarin and linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote weren’t on the Spartans’ spring roster, but are also in the portal.

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney