Spartans Lose Key DB to Transfer Portal

"I'D LIKE TO THANK COACH [JONATHAN] SMITH FOR KEEPING ME HERE THROUGH THE STAFF TRANSITION. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ATHLETIC TRAINING AND STRENGTH STAFF FOR BELIEVING IN ME THROUGH AND THROUGH.

"THANK YOU TO THE MSU COMMUNITY AND TEAMMATES FOR BEING SUCH A SPECIAL PART IN MY CAREER. WITH THAT BEING SAID I'LL BE ENTERING THE TRANSFER PORTAL AS A GRAD TRANSFER WITH 2 YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY REMAINING.

"THANK YOU AND GO GREEN.

"DILLON TATUM"

Tatum had suffered a season-ending lower-body injury in the Spartans' very first game of the 2024 season. He was back on the field in spring camp.

"It was tough to lose him, especially so early in the season," Spartans defensive coordinatorJoe Rossi said earlier this month. "And we kind of had to roll the whole year without him, but yeah, he's obviously been able to recover and he's able to get out and do the things that he needs to do.

"So, I think he gives you some flexibility, I think he's good in the run game, I think he's a good blitzer, I think he has really good speed. He's able to add that element to the game, so we're excited to have him back and working and being around the guys."

Unfortunately for the Spartans, they will no longer be getting those benefits. Coach Smith had said the secondary would be a portal priority this spring, and this move should only intensify that.

Tatum was a highly touted prospect when he committed to Michigan State in 2021. A four-star recruit from West Bloomfield, Tatum was ranked the fifth-best class of 2022 prospect in Michigan, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

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