Former Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has committed to Oregon, he announced Friday.
Harmon, the No. 2 player Athleticismin the rankings of top available transfers, chose the Ducks over USC, Colorado and Ohio State and joins a portal recruiting class that is among the best in the country as Oregon pursues a playoff bid of college football in year three under coach Dan Lanning.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound redshirt junior initially entered the transfer portal in December after Michigan State’s coaching change and took official visits to Oregon, Ohio State and Auburn. He opted out of the portal and remained with the Spartans for spring training under new coach Jonathan Smith.
Harmon re-entered the transfer portal on April 23 and immediately became one of the most coveted defensive linemen on the market. He started 15 games at Michigan State and recorded 71 tackles, 35 pressures, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his career. Harmon has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
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He is a valuable addition to an Oregon defensive line that must replace All-Pac-12 selection and fourth-round pick Brandon Dorlus at defensive tackle as well as Popo Aumavae, Taki Taimani, Casey Rogers and outgoing transfers Ben Roberts and Johnny Bowens III. Harmon will help solidify that spot and the Ducks also added Houston transfer Jamaree Caldwell.
After nearly reaching the CFP in each of his first two seasons, Lanning assembled an impressive transfer class for his first season in the Big Ten led by quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) and Dante Moore (UCLA), wide receiver Evan Stewart (Texas A&M) and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (Washington).
The Ducks also signed the No. 3 high school recruiting class for 2024.
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(Photo: Nick King/Lansing State Journal