Junior Defensive Lineman Ready to Be a Leader for Michigan State Defense

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kaleb Kraus | Last updated Apr 28, 2025 4:43 PM ET

Michigan State football has always performed best, when they have had impactful leaders on their football team. That will be the goal for Alex VanSumeren in his final two seasons in East Lansing.

VanSumeren, now a junior, has had plenty of seasons in the program now, to sit behind guys who have tried to lead, but have only won a handful of games these past two seasons.

He has a chance to help get the Spartans' defense back to a level that hasn't been seen in over a decade: a defense that opposing teams feared. Alex isn't the first VanSumeren to go through the program for MSU.

His older brother Ben VanSumeren has quite a story of his own. The now Super Bowl-winning linebacker, with the Philadelphia Eagles, famously started his collegiate career at rival Michigan, only to transfer to the Green and White before the 2021 season.

In doing so, younger brother Alex, quickly followed suit in becoming the top-rated high school prospect for the 2022 class at MSU.

After three rough straight seasons of less than six wins, the Spartans are at a point where it's tough to trust many of the guys left from the Mel Tucker Era. VanSumeren, however, is different, and he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and leadership qualities.

The Spartan defensive line has lacked production over the last several years, but Alex looks to be trying to lead a return to excellence up front.

VanSumeren spoke about how important this season is going to be during the final days of spring practice to the media. He was also happy to speak about the experience of seeing brother Ben win the Super Bowl.

"Man, it was great. It was really special," Alex said. "I didn't know how special it would be, but to be able to be on the field with Ben after, and my parents were there, it was a feeling I will never forget. Now, I'm trying to go get that. I'm trying to go get myself one, but we've got to take it one day at a time."

He finally had his breakout season in 2024 as he finished with 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. VanSumeren knows how important this spring and summer have been and will be to making sure the Spartans can win six or more ball games.

He seems to have huge goals, as he spoke for a Spartan All-Access Episode, talking about how you win games in the offseason and that the goal is to win every game on the schedule.

That sounds like a very tough task, given the 2025 MSU schedule is full of really tough games both at home and away, but the way he spoke with such confidence shows he's ready to lead.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: