Michigan State DB Malcolm Jones enters transfer portal: What it means & what’s next

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State defensive back Malcolm Jones has entered the transfer portal. The redshirt sophomore has three years of eligibility remaining. 

Jones (6-1, 204) spent the spring in East Lansing with the hope of breaking into the playing group under a new coaching staff.

Jones played in eight games last season as a redshirt freshman. He played a majority of his 65 snaps on special teams. He recorded four tackles last season. 

The Leesburg, Ga., native played in three games in 2022 to preserve his redshirt. He played 14 snaps that season, all on special teams. 

A former three-star prospect out of Lee County (Ga.) High School, Jones was the No. 690 recruit in the 2022 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also the No. 61 safety prospect and No. 70 player from Georgia in his class. 

Jones becomes the 11th player from Michigan State’s 2022 high school class to depart the program since their arrival in East Lansing.

Michigan State has lost four defensive backs to the portal this spring: Jones, cornerback Marqui Lowery, cornerback Eddie Pleasant and safety Sean Brown.

Meanwhile, Michigan State has reached out to Houston transfer defensive back Jalyn Stanford to help replace some of that production in the secondary. The Spartans will host Stanford for an official visit on May 4, SpartanMag confirmed Wednesday. 

Stanford (5-10, 185) redshirted last season as a true freshman. He appeared in four games on special teams for the Cougars. A former three-star recruit, Stanford was the No. 1402 player in the 2023 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He was also No. 139 safety and No. 17 player from Oklahoma in his class.  

Michigan State still has a solid foundation of Jaden Mangham, Malik Spencer and Dillon Tatum at safety. SpartanMag did not see redshirt junior safety Armorion Smith on the field during the Spring Showcase, but he is still on the roster. Walk-on Khalil Majeed is back at the position after playing 151 snaps last season. 

Redshirt senior Angelo Grose also has experience at safety. True freshman Jaylen Thompson repped at the position this spring. Fellow freshman Justin Denson is capable of playing safety, too. 

Jones joins Lowery, Pleasant, Brown, defensive end Bai Jobe, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, defensive end Andrew Depaepe, defensive tackle Simeon Barrow, kicker Stephen Rusnak, offensive lineman Andy Hartman, long snapper Drew Wilson, running back Jalen Berger, tight end Jack Nickel, running back Davion Primm, offensive lineman Braden Miller, running back Jaelon Barbarin, wide receiver Antonio Gates Jr. and linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote as Michigan State players who have entered the portal during the spring window, which is open until April 30.

Photo by Dane Robison for SpartanMag.com.

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