Two of Michigan State football’s top players in the trenches to enter the portal are staying home.

Right guard Geno VanDeMark withdrew his name from the transfer portal on Wednesday, a program spokesperson confirmed. Later Wednesday, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon announced on social media he is withdrawing his name from the transfer portal to remain with the Spartans in 2024.

VanDeMark, the redshirt sophomore, a 2021 recruit, started seven of his eight games in 2023 but missed four due to an undisclosed injury. He played in 10 games during the 2022 season and started twice.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound native of Lodi, New Jersey entered the portal Dec. 4 after the hiring of new coach Jonathan Smith. He had an offer from Oklahoma among other schools, before deciding to come back to East Lansing.

Harmon, the Detroit native and Loyola High product, played in all 12 games this season with 10 starts, posting 40 tackles that included 1.5 sacks among his 3.5 stops for a loss. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound third-year sophomore also had two QB hurries, forced a fumble and broke up a pass.

A 2021 recruit, Harmon has two years of eligibility remaining after playing in four games as a true freshman to preserve a redshirt season. He started five of MSU’s 12 games in 2022 and had 30 tackles and two sacks among his three tackles for a loss.

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Harmon’s partner at defensive tackle, Simeon Barrow, entered the transfer portal in late October during the season but quickly withdrew his name and did not miss any games. Maverick Hansen, who graduated earlier this month, also has another year of eligibility remaining and could return to give MSU a strong presence on the interior for first-year coach Jonathan Smith.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Spartans have nine players who are in the portal. That includes four key pieces on defense: linebacker Jacoby Windmon; defensive ends Zion Young and Khris Bogle; and cornerback Charles Brantley.

Harmon is the sixth player who entered the portal after Smith was hired Nov. 25 to withdraw their name and return to MSU. VanDeMark makes the second starting offensive lineman to pull out of the portal, along with starting left tackle Brandon Baldwin. Two other reserve offensive lineman, tackle Ethan Boyd and guard Kristian “Big Dooley” Phillips, also decided to return to MSU after entering the portal. Wide receiver Jaron Glover also decided to return to the Spartans.

MSU has lost three offensive lineman to transfer in this cycle: starting right tackle Spencer Brown to the Sooners, backup right guard Kevin Wigenton to Illinois and backup tackle Keyshawn Blackstock to Arkansas.

Also, linebacker Quavian Carter has entered the transfer portal. The 6-3, 200-pound redshirt freshman from Georgia did not play in two seasons in East Lansing and missed all of 2023 recovering from an undisclosed injury.

Eight other Spartans remain in the portal without a destination as of Wednesday morning: defensive ends Zion Young and Khris Bogle; defensive tackle Dre Butler; linebacker Jacoby Windmon; tight end Maliq Carr; cornerback Charles Brantley; punter Michael O'Shaughnessy; and wide receiver Sebastian Brown.

Players have until Jan. 4 to either enter or withdraw from the portal.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: Derrick Harmon withdraws from transfer portal