We are officially a week removed from the Pat Fitzgerald introductory press conference at Michigan State, and the transfer portal announcements are starting to trickle in.
We’ve already seen guys like Nick Marsh and Gavin Broscious announce that they’ll be leaving the program this offseason, but now we’re starting to hear from depth pieces — guys who may not have played much over the past two years, but were hoping to have a large role in 2026.
The Spartans haven’t really lost anyone that was supposed to be a huge piece for the future outside of Marsh, but a once-promising young defensive back hit the portal on Tuesday afternoon.
BREAKING: Michigan State DB Justin Denson Jr. plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports⁰
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 10, 2025
The 6’2 200 DB appeared in 11 games in his time with the Spartans
Was one of the Top Graded Freshmen DBs last year (PFF)
⁰3 years of eligibility ⁰⁰https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/UU2opgIxss
Justin Denson Jr. committed to Mel Tucker, stuck around with Jonathan Smith, and now has decided he will take his talents to the transfer portal after Michigan State hired Fitzgerald.
The writing has long been on the wall for Justin Denson Jr.
It felt like Denson was leaning toward leaving regardless of who was leading the program in 2026. The second-year defensive back from Rhode Island had been hinting for months on social media that he was waiting on his opportunity, and with that never really coming in East Lansing, many would have guessed that he’d be one of the first in the portal.
Coming out of high school, the excitement level for Denson was high. He was highly-touted as a recruit, and he was offered by the likes of Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Penn State, and Ole Miss, among dozens of others. It felt like he was going to have an early impact.
As a true freshman in 2024, he recorded 13 tackles and appeared in eight games, but his role never grew under Joe Rossi in 2025. With the return of Rossi, Denson felt it was in his best interest to transfer.
I doubt he’ll receive the same interest from major programs as a transfer as he did as a high school recruit, but I could see him picking a smaller Power Four program where he can start.
Michigan State’s secondary depth took a hit, but I have no doubt that Fitzgerald will address that.