Michigan football lands first pledge of 2022 cycle in DT Alex VanSumeren

Alex VanSumeren, come on down. You’re the first commitment of the Michigan Wolverines 2022 football recruiting class.

247Sports was the first to report on Monday afternoon that the in-state defensive tackle and brother of running back Ben VanSumeren, has pledged to Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines. He also had offers from Kentucky and Central Michigan.

For him, it was the obvious choice.

“It’s hard to beat when you grew up a Wolverine fan,” VanSumeren said, via Allen Trieu. “They have world class academics, tradition-rich football program, terrific coaching staff, and people. People are important.”

“Coach Harbaugh’s desire to make Michigan a winner and his sincerity and competitiveness [made me want to play for him],” VanSumeren continued. “Coach Nua has great energy and passion. He is an outstanding teacher. I can say the same about Coach Brown.”

Standing at 6-foot-3, 270 pounds as a sophomore out of Essexville, Michigan, VanSumeren is currently unranked as a prospect on the 247Composite. His brother was a three-star recruit in the class of 2018.

The Wolverines will mostly put the finishing touches on the 2020 class on Wednesday during the early signing period, as the majority of the class is expected to fax its letters of intent in. That class currently has 25 players and ranks No. 11 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten behind Ohio State.

Michigan’s 2021 class has two players currently committed in five-star quarterback JJ McCarthy and four-star offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi.