Exit Ben VanSumeren
This won't come as a surprise to anyone. After a couple days of rumors and his younger brother Alex's decommitment from the program last night, junior linebacker Ben VanSumeren announced this morning that he's entering the transfer portal:
I have decided to enter the Transfer Portal and begin a new chapter in my life. pic.twitter.com/pwZlhJC3r0
— Ben VanSumeren (@primetimedunkin) February 12, 2021
Angelique Chengelis subsequently confirmed that VanSumeren's name is officially in the portal.
After spending his first two seasons as a running back/fullback, VanSumeren moved to linebacker last year and landed atop the depth chart at strongside linebacker. That spot was a part-time role in Don Brown's defense, so he made seven tackles in six games, contributing both on defense and special teams. With Brown's departure and replacement Mike Macdonald likely moving the defense to a 3-4 scheme, VanSumeren likely believed his best chance at significant playing time would come elsewhere.
Michigan still has plenty of depth, even if much of it is unproven, at the linebacker spots, especially since some of the lighter defensive ends are likely to become rush outside linebackers this spring. The most significant fallout from VanSumeren's departure may be the impact on his brother's recruitment, though given Alex's post-commitment influx of high-level offers and the change in M's defensive scheme, these moves may not be as related as the timing would indicate.
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February 12th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Still no word on why the younger brother decommitted at the same time as BVS departs?
February 12th, 2021 at 1:21 PM ^
Didn't you see? He said "may not" be connected!
To which I say BS! They obviously wouldn't come within 24 hours of each other otherwise ?♂️
I hope they continue to croot Alex tho
February 12th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^
Yeah, it seems a bit fishy. I'm hoping it's more to do with the coaching change or the numbers at DT with the recent signing of Rooks & Benny than some sort of player treatment thing. But, I also find it odd that we wouldn't want a 300 lbs 4-star DT. I'm guessing there's a story here, but whatever it is, no one's saying it yet.
February 12th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
The most likely story is that BVS is angry/mad/sad/disappointed/etc with the new coaches and/or his projected place on the depth chart and bailed, and his little brother naturally took his side.
February 12th, 2021 at 3:05 PM ^
He seems more suited for a career in wrestling. Good luck BV.
February 12th, 2021 at 3:54 PM ^
They were absolutely connected.
February 12th, 2021 at 4:28 PM ^
of course they were connected, but that's a meaningless term in this context - they're, you know, brothers. to suggest that the decommit and transfer aren't connected would be silly. if the elder isn't getting the opportunity he thinks he deserves (rightly or wrongly, it truly doesn't matter), then of course the younger would rethink his commitment.
"connected" doesn't mean that something bad happened either way.
February 12th, 2021 at 5:41 PM ^
They were absolutely connected.
Are you able to provide any more details or know if/when they may emerge?
February 12th, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
I'm sure a text message will be posted soon
February 12th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
Honestly hard to fault the decisions but still a little salty
February 12th, 2021 at 2:08 PM ^
Good luck Ben.
February 12th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
Ben being here was probably a big draw for Alex, him transferring gives him just enough doubt to decommit and make sure that it wasn't the only reason he was coming here. Just have to keep recruiting, and show that he was right the 1st time.
Good Luck to BVS. Sad to see him go, whoever gets him will be getting one of those "I can "hear" football type players".
February 12th, 2021 at 5:48 PM ^
Ben being here was probably a big draw for Alex, him transferring gives him just enough doubt to decommit and make sure that it wasn't the only reason he was coming here.
Not saying you're wrong, but it's hard to imagine older brother being at the same school is a big draw beyond the recruiting process to provide familiarity seeing as though they are 4 years apart. And, based on Alex's offer sheet it seems unlikely the two wind up at the same school. So, I have a hard time thinking the older brother still being at UM is a big draw. It seems more likely Ben is upset at the staff for some reason and Alex appears sympathetic to it which is making him question his recruitment. It's not surprising that a younger brother would be affected by that, but at the same time they are different players, playing different positions, and vastly differently rated recruits. Ben's path seems unlikely to be Alex's path so it seems kinda meh to me. But, I'm not a 17 year old HS kid either.
February 12th, 2021 at 3:43 PM ^
Good luck to the young man. Never understood why he was recruited here when he was. Really hope this staff stops doing this.
February 12th, 2021 at 4:29 PM ^
stops doing...what?
February 12th, 2021 at 4:36 PM ^
Never understood why he was recruited here when he was.
What are you having trouble with regarding the timeline? Seems like he was recruited to be a fullback to succeed Ben Mason.
Really hope this staff stops doing this.
Stops doing what?
8.5.7February 12th, 2021 at 8:14 PM ^
Michigan had already started to move away from the fullback, hence Ben Mason playing defense, and stop recruiting players that clearly do not have a position. They just say eh we will find a position for him. Im guessing teams in the playoffs do not waste scholarships on "eh, we will find a spot for him. He is a football player!!!"
February 13th, 2021 at 9:38 AM ^
Michigan had already started to move away from the fullback, hence Ben Mason playing defense
This is wrong. Michigan was not moving on from the fullback, nor was Ben Mason playing defense his freshman year, in 2017 when Michigan was recruiting VanSumeren. Van Sumeren's freshman year in 2018, we didn't really have an offensive coordinator, so we weren't "moving away from a fullback" because we really didn't know what the future held.
It wasn't until 2019 when Gatti was hired that we moved away from fullback and Mason started (disastrously) playing defense. This is after VanSumeren had been on campus for a year.
Im guessing teams in the playoffs do not waste scholarships on "eh, we will find a spot for him. He is a football player!!!"
Also wrong. Teams take "athletes" all the time that have positional flexibility. Cameron Martinez for Ohio State last year comes to mind. QB in high school and now he's a DB in college.
8.5.7February 13th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
4 carries at fullback but yet they weren't moving away from that position okay. If im so wrong why is transferring, I'm curious?
February 14th, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
4 carries at fullback but yet they weren't moving away from that position okay.
Correct. Fullbacks were still on the field blocking most plays, just not getting carries. Several of his carries (maybe all of them?) were him lining up as the sole RB. We did move away from giving the FB carries.
If im so wrong why is transferring, I'm curious?
He's transferring because we don't have a FB position anymore, and he's not a good LB. I thought this was common sense?
8.5.7February 22nd, 2021 at 3:48 PM ^
Common sense is right! Stop recruiting kids that are not good enough to play here! How dumb are you?
February 12th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
Sad to see him go, but wish him the best of luck. In truth, he was recruited to play in schemes we don’t use any more, and his struggle in the pass coverage last year didn’t bode well for more playing time this year. He’ll be better served with a fresh start.
February 12th, 2021 at 7:49 PM ^
Curious to know the story here. Seems like the staff did right by him. He played in every game this year and was considered the starter at Sam. He got 9 carries as a sophomore despite there being plenty of other backs on the roster.
February 13th, 2021 at 10:10 AM ^
I was really looking forwards to BVS stepping up this year. Best of luck to him and his brother.
February 13th, 2021 at 10:12 AM ^
Moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4 decreases BVS's chances of playing as a linebacker?
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