Michigan State football: Future is bright with Alex VanSumeren, Ben Roberts

The future seems incredibly bright with Alex VanSumeren and Ben Roberts manning the middle of the Michigan State football defensive line.

If you follow the Michigan State football program close enough to read Spartan Shadows, then you already know the transfer portal claimed two of the team’s best players this offseason. The defensive line was set to be one of the best in the conference. In no time, the strength became a weakness.

Fast forward to fall camp, the defensive line is still a major concern. The staff brought in transfers to help – Georgia Tech’s D’Quan Douse and MTSU’s Quindarius Dunnigan, among others – but its impossible to improve when the two players you lost were the top performers in their positions in the transfer portal.

I won’t lie, it could be a tough go for the defensive front this year but there are two glimmers of hope beaming out of fall camp: defensive tackles Alex VanSumeren (AVS) and Ben Roberts.

Reports out of camp say AVS and Roberts have been shining. These two redshirt sophomores have the potential to bring the position group back to the promised land. Based on what we’re hearing, it could be sooner rather than later.

VanSumeren was a blue-chip recruit for Mel Tucker in the 2022 class but most fans haven’t heard the name since. Two major leg injuries delayed the monster-in-waiting. Heading into 2024, the quiet weight room warrior is healthy and allegedly showing out in camp.

Roberts, an under-the-radar transfer from Oregon, was also a blue-chipper coming out of high school. After playing a limited amount of snaps for a stacked Oregon team, Roberts hit the portal even after being a stand-out in the Ducks’ spring game. The talent is there and it sounds like MSU defensive line coach Legi Suiainoa is liking what he sees.

With the major losses of Derrick Harmon and Simeon Barrow, I can’t stress how important it will be for the defensive line to have a stable of players in a rotation. Creating depth reduces risk if (when) someone gets hurt. It also gives multiple players in-game experience which is critical to player development.

As it stands today, the defensive tackles projected 2-deep is as follows:

• Mavrick Hansen/Da’Quan Douse
• Ben Roberts/Ru’Quan Buckley

Having the ability to plug in AVS into the rotation is huge on so many levels — added depth, in-game rest, and creative flexibility for the coaching staff.

Douse and Hansen are gone after this year. In my eyes, those shoes will be filled by Roberts and VanSumeren.

Man, I can’t wait to see these guys get some run early in the year.

Go Green.