Ben VanSumeren
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ben VanSumeren
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Philadelphia Eagles
| number = 43
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|5}}
| birth_place = Bay City, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 231
| high_school = Garber {{avoid wrap|(Essexville, Michigan)}}
| college = Michigan (2018–2020)
Michigan State (2021–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 16
| statlabel2 = Receptions
| statvalue2 = 1
| pfr = VanSBe00
}}
Ben VanSumeren (born May 5, 2000) is an American professional football fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans.
Early life
VanSumeren was born on May 5, 2000, and grew up in Bay City, Michigan.{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/ben-vansumeren/12065|publisher=Michigan State Spartans|title=Ben VanSumeren}} By age six, he declared that he was going to be a professional football player.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2023/04/when-6-year-old-ben-vansumeren-said-he-was-nfl-bound-it-was-more-than-a-dream.html|website=MLive.com|title=When 6-year-old Ben VanSumeren said he was NFL-bound, it was more than a dream|author=Thompson, Lee|date=April 26, 2023}} He attended Garber High School in Essexville, playing at different points linebacker, defensive lineman, quarterback, running back and wide receiver when needed. VanSumeren played best at receiver, leading Bay County in receiving for three years, including a senior campaign that saw him post a regular season state record 81 receptions for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns, being named by Associated Press the division player of the year. Although initially committing to Iowa, he flipped to Michigan after receiving a late offer from them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2017/12/meet_ben_vansumeren_michigan_f.html|website=MLive.com|title=Meet Ben VanSumeren, Michigan football's better-late-than-never signee|author=Thompson, Lee|date=December 20, 2017}}
College career
Recruited to play fullback, VanSumeren appeared in four games for Michigan as a true freshman in 2018, preserving his redshirt status.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/124205215/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 2, 2020|page=B5|title=VanSumeren finding role on the defensive side|author=Sang, Orion}} {{Open access}} He moved to running back in 2019, playing five games with five rushes for 20 yards and one touchdown. He moved to linebacker in 2020, playing six games but only posting seven tackles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ben-vansumeren-lb-michigan-state-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2023/|publisher=Pro Football Network|title=Ben VanSumeren, LB, Michigan State {{!}} NFL Draft Scouting Report|author=Katz, Jason|date=April 20, 2023}} Due to his limited playing time, he transferred to the rival Michigan State Spartans.
In his first season at Michigan State, VanSumeren played in all 13 games, but only managed to make 12 tackles. He initially entered the transfer portal in 2022, but then opted to return to the Spartans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2023/03/ben-vansumeren-stuck-with-michigan-state-and-it-paid-off-with-shot-at-nfl.html|website=MLive.com|title=Ben VanSumeren stuck with Michigan State and it pays off with shot at NFL|author=Wenzel, Matt|date=March 28, 2023}} In his final year, he saw his first significant playing time, starting 10 of 11 games and making 81 tackles with two sacks and two pass breakups. Although VanSumeren had one year of eligibility left, he opted to accept an invitation to the East–West Shrine Bowl and declared for the NFL draft.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2
| weight = 231
| dash = 4.40
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.53
| shuttle = 4.46
| cone drill = 7.10
| vertical = 42.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 11
| bench = 29
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022822&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Ben VanSumeren College Football Profile |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Despite being projected by several sources as a pick in the 2023 NFL draft, VanSumeren went unselected; afterwards, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, being given a contract that included $130,000 guaranteed.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/football/michigan-state-spartans-football-nfl-draft-pro-day-ben-vansumeren-kendall-brooks-msu-032123|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Michigan State LB Ben VanSumeren wows on-lookers at Spartans' Pro Day|date=March 21, 2023|author=Mulcrone, Aeden}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2023/04/nfl-analyst-guarantees-michigan-state-lb-ben-vansumeren-will-be-drafted.html|website=MLive.com|title=NFL analyst guarantees Michigan State LB Ben VanSumeren will be drafted|date=April 20, 2023|author=Wenzel, Matt}}{{Cite news|url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2023/05/02/philadelphia-eagles-ben-vansumeren-undrafted-rookie-free-agency-nfl-draft-guaranteed-contract-details/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Eagles' UDFA deal with Michigan State linebacker Ben VanSumeren is for $130K guaranteed|date=May 2, 2023|author=Erby, Glenn}} He was waived on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Eagles announce initial 53-man roster|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-initial-53-man-roster-2023|author1=Spadaro, Dave|author2=McPherson, Chris|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=August 29, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Owen |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Eagles announce practice squad |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-announce-practice-squad-2023 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} On November 5, VanSumeren was called up from the practice squad for 3 consecutive weeks with his first game being against the Dallas Cowboys, . He was signed to the active roster on November 30.{{Cite web |last=Erby |first=Glenn |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Eagles announce 4 roster moves ahead of Week 13 matchup vs. 49ers |url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-sign-ben-vansumeren-active-roster-greg-ward-released/ |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=Eagles Wire|publisher=USA Today}} On December 25, VanSumeren recorded six tackles while playing 36 defensive snaps in a 33-25 victory over the New York Giants.{{Cite web |title=New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles - December 25th, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202312250phi.htm |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=2024=
In his second season, VanSumeren began playing fullback on offense, which was his original position in college. In the 2024 season, VanSumeren played in 11 games (one start) for Philadelphia in 2024, logging 3 combined tackles and 1 offensive reception for no gain.{{Cite web |title=Ben VanSumeren 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VanSBe00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} On November 29, 2024, VanSumeren suffered a season–ending knee injury during practice.{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Charean | title=Report: Ben VanSumeren out for season after injuring his knee Friday | website=NBC Sports | date=2024-11-29 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-ben-vansumeren-out-for-season-after-injuring-his-knee-friday | access-date=2024-12-20}} At the conclusion of the 2024 season, VanSumeren and the Eagles won the Super Bowl.{{cite web | last=Maaddi | first=Rob | title=Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 rout | website=AP News | date=2025-02-10 | url=https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8 | access-date=2025-02-17}}
VanSumeren appeared in 11 games with 1 start during the 2024 season. He played offensive snaps and 213 special teams snaps.
=2025=
VanSumeren signed a one-year, $1,030,000 contract extension with the Eagles on March 12, 2025.https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/ben-vansumeren-free-agency-re-sign-linebacker-fullback/654320/ After his re-signing, VanSumeren's position on the Eagles' official roster was changed from linebacker to fullback. https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2025/03/philadelphia-eagles-re-sign-ben-vansumeren-this-time-with-fullback-designation.html
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/players-roster/ben-vansumeren/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
- [https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/ben-vansumeren/12065 Michigan State Spartans bio]
{{Philadelphia Eagles roster navbox}}
{{Super Bowl LIX}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:VanSumeren, Ben}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football running backs
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Players of American football from Michigan
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players