Two Michigan State defensive linemen have entered the transfer portal – defensive end Andrew Depaepe and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Additionally, long snapper Drew Wilson, running back Jalen Berger and tight end Jack Nickel have entered the transfer portal.
A Michigan State spokesperson confirmed the entries to Spartans Illustrated, while the Rivals Portal team reported the news as well.
With Depaepe, Harmon, Wilson, Berger and Nickel entering the transfer portal, there are now 12 players from Michigan State’s spring roster who have entered the transfer portal.
Harmon saw game action right away once he arrived on campus. In his true freshman season in 2021, he played in four games and recorded one tackle. Due to only playing in four games that season, he was able to utilize his redshirt.
As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he played in all 12 games and earned five starts for the Spartans. He finished the season with 30 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass defended and one fumble recovery.
In his third year with the program, Harmon played in all 12 games again and recorded 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble. As a redshirt sophomore, he set new career highs in tackles and tackles for loss in the 2023 season.
He played 475 defensive snaps this past season. According to Pro Football Focus, Harmon was MSU's highest-graded defensive player overall (minimum 20 snaps) at a mark of 78.4.
After the 2023 season, he announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Nov. 29, 2023, and officially entered the portal on Dec. 4. While in the transfer portal, he received interest from some top programs like Auburn, Ohio State, Oregon and more.
He later withdrew his name from the transfer portal on Dec. 27. This is Harmon’s second time entering the transfer portal since the 2023 season ended. Harmon will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
Depaepe redshirted in his first and only season thus far with the Spartans. He played in one game, against Washington, and saw 11 defensive snaps. Depaepe was an early enrollee and participated in spring practice in 2023.
The Bettendorf, Iowa native was a former four-star recruit coming out of high school. He took visits to Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Washington and Wisconsin before committing to Michigan State, under former head coach Mel Tucker, on Feb. 2, 2022.
He will have all four years of college eligibility remaining
Wilson began his college career at Long Beach City College in California before transferring to Michigan State ahead of the 2023 season.
In his lone season so far with the Spartans, he was in charge of long-snapping duties on the punt unit for the final eight games of the season. He snapped 55 punts including a season-high 10 punts against Penn State.
The only other long snapper on the roster this spring for Michigan State is James Madison transfer Kaden Schickel.
Berger started his college career at Wisconsin, where he spent two seasons. As a Badger, he appeared in seven games. Berger tallied 84 carries, 389 rushing yards and three scores. He added four catches for 30 yards in the receiving game.
Berger transferred to Michigan State ahead of the 2022 season, which ended up being a career year for the Newark, New Jersey native. He was the leading rusher for the Spartans as he posted 683 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 148 carries. Berger also had 19 receptions for 128 yards.
His 2023 campaign was cut short due to suffering a season-ending injury against Michigan. Berger only ended up playing in five games in 2023. He totaled 93 rushing yards and one touchdown on 25 carries to go along with five catches for 40 receiving yards.
Nickel has spent two years with the program thus far. Nickel hasn't recorded any catches in his time with the Spartans, but he played in 10 games in 2023. He played 90 snaps on special teams and 13 snaps on offense.
He did not see any game action as a true freshman in 2022, and he redshirted.
Nickel was a former three-star recruit in the 2022 class and is originally from Milton, Georgia. Nickel was ranked by Rivals as the No. 35 tight end and No. 65 player in the state of Georgia in the 2022 cycle.
Nickel has three years of college eligibility remaining.
To keep up with all of Michigan State’s transfer portal activity, please visit the Spartans Illustrated Transfer Portal Tracker.
