Michigan State linebacker Ben VanSumeren reverses course after transfer portal entry

Michigan State is getting one player back out of the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Former Michigan Wolverine and Spartans transfer Ben VanSumeren has withdrawn his name from the portal after opting to depart in March.

The Essexville, Michigan, native had 12 tackles for the Spartans last season. Coming out of Garber High School, he was an “athlete” prospect and started his career in Ann Arbor as a fullback. In 2020, as a redshirt sophomore, he made his first two starts at linebacker.

A member of the 2018 signing class, VanSumeren was a three-star prospect with offers from 14 Division-I programs. He chose Michigan after an official visit over Iowa.

The Michigan State Spartans held the annual spring game on Saturday. They had an unusual format for the scrimmage, holding a 15-period practice with drills during the first half and live scrimmage periods during the second half.

Mel Tucker breaks down Spartans transfer portal process

Mel Tucker’s squad has seen an enormous amount of roster turnover over the last two seasons. After an 11-2 finish in 2021, the Spartans have been able to get more selective in their transfer portal acquisitions. The team has already added six former Power 5 transfers, as well as others, for the 2022 season.

“It’s a lot different this go-around because we’re actually able to visit with them face to face,” Tucker said at the end of 2021. “They can come on visits and we can go see them. We just know a lot more about them. And we know a lot more about our team, so we know what our needs are. Where we have immediate, where we need more depth, where we can afford to develop some guys, but also where we need some guys to come in and play right now and start. It’s a little different dynamic. We’re built, in our personnel department, to recruit the high school ranks and also from the portal.

“We’ve been through it before. It’s just a matter of making sure that we just don’t collect players but we’re building a team. There’s a lot of players that want to come here. Right now we only have so many spots and we have to be very judicious in who we add to the mix because we have to make sure that our roster is balanced and that we have enough players, enough difference-makers at each position.”