Ben VanSumeren transferring to Michigan State, former teammate shares reaction

Ben VanSumeren did not last long in the transfer portal after he departed from the Michigan Wolverines football program. Though, his next destination may raise some eyebrows. The former Wolverine linebacker announced that he will be making the move up the road to East Lansing to play for the Michigan State Spartans.

Former teammate and linebacker Michael Barrett was quick to make his feelings known on the move.

VanSumeren, a former three-star recruit out of Essexville, began his Michigan career at fullback and running back before transitioning to linebacker before last season. He was able to crack the lineup as a pass-rushing linebacker, but his time on the field was inconsistent. With a scheme change coming defensively, his fit in the new look came into question and he decided to explore an opportunity up the road as a result.

Alex VanSumeren, a four-star defensive tackle in the 2022 class, backed out of his pledge to Michigan earlier this month. The Spartans are listed as one of the teams in the mix for his services.

This adds another intriguing layer to the rivalry, which went in the favor of the Spartans last fall. Michigan and MSU are scheduled to play each other on Oct. 30 in East Lansing, so you can be sure to jot this down as a storyline to keep an eye on.