Michigan State Football Loses Key Defensive Back to Transfer Portal

A key member of Michigan State’s defensive backfield has entered the transfer portal.

The transfer portal has become a significant factor in college sports, especially with NIL influencing decisions. Every offseason, players are increasingly seeking new opportunities, and it’s not uncommon for the same individuals to transfer each year.

Dillon Tatum, who has been committed to Michigan State since high school, defies the usual trend. However, he unexpectedly entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon.

The news was surprising, but coming off a season-ending injury in the 2024 opener, it can be challenging for a player to fully recover, and it seems that Tatum and the staff mutually agreed to part ways.

Tatum was a starter for the Spartans in 2023 and was set to begin 2024 as the starting safety before suffering an injury against FAU, which sidelined him for the rest of the season.

With Mel Tucker’s influence on the team fading, Tatum’s recruitment by the former head coach is a reminder of the past. Tatum, who chose Michigan State over Michigan in 2022 from West Bloomfield, Michigan, had a solid career, accumulating 62 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and eight pass breakups.

Tatum will now seek a new program for his final year of eligibility, though he might be eligible for an additional season due to the injury he sustained early in the 2024 campaign.

On paper, this is a significant loss for the Spartans. Tatum was expected to be the starting safety if healthy and was known for his versatility in the backfield, a skill that will certainly be missed.