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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