MSU S Dillon Tatum mum after losing teammate Jaden Mangham to Michigan football

INDIANAPOLIS — For MSU safety Dillon Tatum, he can look all over the in-state rivalry with Michigan football and see people he knows and loves on both sides. Even some who were on his side a few short months ago are on the other side, and vice versa.

Tatum originally played high school ball at West Bloomfield (Mich.) under then-head coach Ron Bellamy — who is now the receivers coach at Michigan. He has multiple former teammates who are now Wolverines — including running back Donovan Edwards and wide receiver Semaj Morgan. But most recently, he’s seen one of his own from East Lansing — fellow safety Jaden Mangham — opt to move from one side of the rivalry to the other.

In fact, hours after Mangham transferred to Michigan, Michigan linebacker Semaj Bridgeman transferred to Michigan State.

For Tatum, he’s more focused on who joined MSU rather than one of his brothers flipping sides in the rivlary.

“Yeah — switch-up is crazy! But at the end of the day, he felt like that was the best decision for him,” Tatum said. “We got in one of their guys. Just teaching that new guy how the rivalry is from my side, how we feel about this, and that it’s not just any game. It’s never gonna be that way.

“Bringing that in, we’re focused on the future. Focused on learning, getting better with the guys that are in this locker room now to win some games.”

Tatum was very measured with his words when asked about Mangham switching sides. Though he’s happy that he’s happy, he isn’t going to give any bulletin board fodder nor trash him for his decision to wear a winged helmet after being indoctrinated that maize and blue is evil.

“No — it’s OK,” Tatum said. “I don’t really have much to speak on it. It’s not my area to talk about. People are going to do what they’re going to do at the end of the day.”

Still, Tatum keeps his relationships with those who are on the other side. WolverinesWire asked him if he’s still close with Edwards — the burgeoning star for the Wolverines — and he simply said:

“Yup, we still talk.”

Perhaps this is a sign that the rivalry is set to be more respectful. Or it’s just a calm before another annual storm.