breaking unbelievable news now, two Michigan State Football players have finally terminated their transfers.
Two additional football players from Michigan State are trying to find a new school.
A program spokeswoman announced on Tuesday morning that junior offensive tackle Keyshawn Blackstock and redshirt junior defensive tackle Simeon Barrow had entered the transfer portal.
Harlon Barnett, the interim coach at Michigan State, stated on Monday that he had a meeting with Barrow earlier in the day and anticipated that the three-year starter would access the portal. In addition, Blackstock is making use of the portal window, which is open for 30 days following coach Mel Tucker’s Sept. 27 dismissal for cause.
With long snapper Hank Pepper, defensive back Justin White, and running back Jordan Simmons having previously stated their intention to transfer, the Spartans have now lost five players from their roster.
In 2020, Barrow chose not to play in his true freshman season due to concerns about the pandemic. However, the next year, he assumed a starting position. He appeared in 28 career games for the Spartans, with 25 starts and a total of 93 tackles, including 15.5 for a loss, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Blackstock was a four-star JUCO prospect who signed with Michigan State in the winter after spending two seasons at Coffeyville Community College. He started the season as Brandon Baldwin’s backup left tackle and saw action in the first four games before being declared ineligible for the final three.
Blackstock has two seasons left of eligibility, while Barrow has one left after he can take a redshirt this year and play in just four games.
Last week’s 49-0 home loss to Michigan was the fifth straight game in which Michigan State (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) had lost. This Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on BTN, the Spartans travel to Minnesota (4-3, 2-2).
This week, Michigan State Football lost two more players via the transfer portal. These two guys are the first to leave Michigan State with a real impact, despite the fact that they have only lost five players overall since firing Mel Tucker.
This week, junior offensive tackle Keyshawn Blackstock and redshirt junior defensive tackle Simeon Barrow both made their transfer portal debuts.
Barrow, who was selected as the team captain for every Spartans game this season, is a massive loss as he has started for most of the previous two years. After using his redshirt year, Barrow is searching for a new place to call home for his senior year.
That kind of player loss is harsh for the squad this year and not good for the future. It does not look well for MSU’s offseason if the players who played for the most of their careers want to leave, especially halfway through a season in which they have already used up all of their eligibility.
Blackstock is a distinct circumstance. Prior to the season, Blackstock was among the best-ranked junior college transfers that could be found. In light of the publicity surrounding his MSU pledge, he never felt entirely at home on the field. Blackstock played guard in junior college but was regarded as a tackle at MSU. Blackstock can still count this year as his redshirt, so his departure this week still maintains a year of eligibility despite injuries and an unexpectedly clear backup role.
Undoubtedly, Blackstock’s passing is sad, but his absence from the field this year will lessen the effect. Moreover, his brief involvement in the program lessens his influence in the locker room compared to Barrow, for example.
It is commendable for Michigan State’s coaching staff that players did not leave the university right away when Mel Tucker was fired. The “30-day window” that players are granted following a coach’s dismissal ends on Thursday, and that’s the only time they may access the transfer portal. Only five players have quit the program over the time frame overall. Those that remain after that will have to wait until the end of the season to investigate the gateway.
Both in the locker room and on the field, Simeon Barrow will be missed. It is hoped that the club as a whole can come together in preparation for this weekend’s game against Minnesota, which could be winnable.
