Essexville (Mich.) Garber three-star athlete Ben VanSumeren is officially a part of the Michigan football program.
Measurables
• At Nike’s The Opening regional in Cleveland, VanSumeren ran a 4.76 40-yard dash and a 4.03 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 40.3-inch vertical jump and a 39-foot power ball throw resulting in a Nike+ Football Rating of 127.74, good for No. 10 in the entire country .
• Has recorded a 475-pound deadlift.
Statistics
• As a senior, VanSumeren recorded 85 receptions for 1,259 yards (14.9 yards per catch) and 13 scores. The catch total was a new regular-season state record, despite starting the first two games of his senior season at quarterback.
Additionally, he also carried the ball 54 times for 387 yards (7.2 yards per carry) and six more touchdowns, while he threw for 249 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. On defense, he tallied 43 tackles, including four for loss and one sack.
• During his junior year, VanSumeren had 49 receptions for 776 yards (15.8 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. He also had 72 carries for 489 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and found the end zone six more times. On defense, he recorded 19 tackles, including two for loss.
• In his sophomore season, VanSumeren had 42 catches for 853 yards (20.3 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. He also carried the ball 34 times for 177 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and scored five times. On defense that season, he recorded 17 tackles.
• Led his team in receiving three straight seasons and finished with 176 catches for 2,888 yards and 29 touchdowns.
• Ranks fifth in state history for catches and sixth for receiving yardage in a career.
• He also carried 160 times for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns, and threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
• Defensively, he ended his career with 79 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions.
Honors
• Tabbed to the All-USA Michigan first-team after his senior year as a wide receiver by USA Today High School Sports.
• Made the Detroit News All-State Dream Team as a senior.
• 2017 Associated Press Division 5-6 high school football Player of the Year and first-team All-State.
• 2017 Golden Helmet Class B Player of the Year.
• 2017 MLive Bay City Football Player of the Year.
• Listed No. 47 on the Detroit Free Press' top 50 list of the state's best football players prior to his senior season.
• 2015, 2016 and 2017 Bay City Times Dream Team member.
• 2016 Division 5-6 Associated Press All-State football team honorable mention wide receiver.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Participated in Nike’s The Opening regional in Cleveland, where he posted the top score.
Recruitment
• Originally committed to Western Michigan in February of his junior year.
• Backed off that commitment in May after receiving Power Five interest following strong camp performances, which ultimately led to a commitment to Iowa on Nov. 10.
• Flipped his commitment to Michigan on Dec. 17 following an official visit to Ann Arbor.
Notable
• Carries a 3.6 GPA.
• Becomes the first player from his high school to sign with a Big Ten program.
• Mother, Cindy, attended Michigan.
• Born May 5, 2000.
2018 Projection
It's almost a certainty that VanSumeren will find his way onto the field in 2018. At 6-3 and 235 pounds, he's college ready in terms of size and strength and has that freakish athleticism that sets him apart from most incoming freshman fullbacks.
He'll likely get a shot to play on special teams and will also complement rising-sophomore Ben Mason in the backfield. VanSumeren brings a little more versatility to the fullback spot than Mason does and will be a nice change of pace if Jim Harbaugh still wants to trout out a jumbo package with the two Bens.
They Said It
Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt: "VanSumeren put up impressive testing numbers this offseason for a 6-foot-3, 235-pound prospect. He came into his senior season bigger, faster and still making the impressive plays on the football field that initially drew interest in his junior season. He has a great pair of hands and showed great body control as a receiver, but also has a lot of skills that would fit very well into the outside linebacker position in college."
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