Ben VanSumeren

Class:
Freshman
Position:
FB
Height:
6-3
Weight:
236
Hometown:
Essexville, Mich.
High School:
Garber

CAREER GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS

CAREER HIGHS
• Tackles: 3 - at Rutgers (Nov. 21, 2020)
• Solos: 2 - at Indiana (Nov. 7, 2020)
• Asst: 3 - at Rutgers (Nov. 21, 2020)
• TFLs: none
• Sacks: none
• Int.: none
• FR: none
• PBUs: none

Rushing
• Attempts: 4 - vs. Middle Tennessee State, 2019
• Yards: 7 - vs. Middle Tennessee State, 2019
• TDs: 1 - vs. Middle Tennessee State, 2019
• Long: 6 - vs. Army, 2019

At Michigan
• Three-year letterman (2018-19-20)
• Appeared in fifteen games in his career, with two starts
• Played on special teams only in four contests and saw action in the backfield in five games, playing linebacker all other games
• Moved to linebacker prior to the 2020 season

Junior (2020)
• Appeared in all six games with two starts at linebacker and also played on special teams; made seven tackles to earn his third varsity letter
• Contributed at linebacker and on special teams against Wisconsin (Nov. 14), at Minnesota (Oct. 24)
• Playing linebacker and special teams, added two tackles against Michigan State (Oct. 31)
• Made two solo stops at Indiana (Nov. 7)
• Assisted on three tackles from the linebacker spot at Rutgers (Nov. 21)
• Started against Penn State (Nov. 28) and played at linebacker and on special teams

Sophomore (2019)
• Appeared in five games in the backfield and on special teams, rushed five times for 20 yards to earn his second varsity letter
• Carried the ball four times for seven yards and his first career touchdown against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 31) and also played special teams
• Had one six-yard carry and contributed on special teams against Army (Sept. 7)
• Contributed on special teams at Wisconsin (Sept. 21)
• Carried the ball three times for five yards against Rutgers (Sept. 28) and played on special teams
• Ran the ball once for two yards against Notre Dame (Oct. 26)

Freshman (2018)
• Earned his first varsity letter
• Appeared in four games, playing fullback in two and special teams in two, to earn his first varsity letter
• Made his U-M debut at fullback against Western Michigan (Sept. 8) and also saw snaps there against SMU (Sept. 15)
• Played on special teams against Nebraska (Sept. 22), Northwestern (Sept. 29)

Prep
• Attended Garber High School (2018) coached by Jake Coquillard
• Becomes the first player from his high school to sign with a Big Ten Conference school

Key Statistics
• Led Bay County in receiving for three straight years
• Finished prep career with 176 receptions for 2,888 yards and 29 touchdowns
• Also carried the football 160 times for 1,053 yards and scored 17 touchdowns and completed 13-of-27 passes for 279 yards and four TDs
• Registered 79 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions during his career, including 43 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack as a senior
• Hauled in 85 receptions – a regular season state record – for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season
• Also went 11-of-25 passing for 249 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions as a senior, adding 54 carries for 387 yards (7.2 per carry) and six touchdowns
• Caught 49 passes for 776 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior
• Grabbed 42 catches for 853 yards and eight scores during his sophomore season

Honors and Rankings
• Has a 247Sports composite ranking of No. 11 in the state of Michigan and lists as the 49th-best athlete in the country
• Rivals.com three-star prospect, the No. 15 player in the state of Michigan and the 37th-rated tight end prospect nationally
• Named Associated Press Player of the Year for Division 5 and 6 as a senior
• Selected MLive Bay City Player of the Year in 2017
• Participated in 2017 Nike The Opening in Cleveland; won the overall ratings MVP at the camp
• Named to the Detroit News All-State Dream Team as a senior
• Three-time selection to the MLive Bay City Times Dream Team (2015, '16, '17)

Personal
• Ben VanSumeren was born May 5, 2000
• Son of Jeff and Cindy VanSumeren
• Mother, Cindy, attended the University of Michigan
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, studying American Culture

In the Words of the VanSumeren Family …
Playing organized sports has been an integral part of my son, Ben's life since he was in preschool. The reason he started playing sports so young was because he had so much energy and we wanted to channel it in a positive and healthy way. Soon after playing tee ball at 4 years old we discovered Ben was quick on his feet and he had great hand/eye coordination.

At the young age of 10 years old, Ben discovered his love for the game of tackle football. From that day forward he slept with a football and his goal was to be a University of Michigan football player. He continued to play other sports in the off season, baseball, basketball and he ran track but football was his passion. When most kids his age were playing video games or just hanging out Ben chose to go to the gym to lift weights.

Ben's work ethic and motivation is off the charts. Even more impressive than his natural athletic ability is his gift for staying calm under pressure and staying focused on his goals. His character and strong faith will continue to guide him along his path in college and throughout life. His great sense of humor and optimistic attitude will protect him during the rough patches we all face at one time or another.

Ben is the first person from his high school to ever play football at the University of Michigan. With that being said, Ben wants to continue to make the people who supported him and helped him along the way proud. He wants to be someone who others can look up to and try to emulate. His pride in wearing the winged helmet and playing football for the best university in the country is something of utmost importance to him.