Ben VanSumeren commits to Iowa
Michigan native Ben VanSumeren has found a college home in Iowa City. The ultra athletic and versatile 6-foot-3, 225-pound VanSumeren verbally committed to the University of Iowa today after landing a scholarship offer from the Hawkeyes this fall and visiting campus a couple weeks ago.
“I’m going to be a Hawkeye,” VanSumeren told HawkeyeReport.com.
At one time a Western Michigan commit as a junior, VanSumeren picked up new offers his senior year from Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, Cincinnati, and Air Force, but quickly found the right fit once he visited the Hawkeyes.
“I just wanted to be at such a respected program and with respected coaches like they have at Iowa,” said VanSumeren. “I think the Hawkeye coaching staff teaches great values and I want to be around people with values like that. Also, I want to play in the Big Ten and I want to play against the best competition.”
“In the end, Iowa offers all of that,” he continued. “That’s what led me to make this decision.”
Earlier this year, VanSumeren showed that he is one of the top athletes in the Midwest by posting the top overall rating at the Nike Opening Regional in Cleveland, which earned him a spot in the top ten on the national leaderboard. At the event, he posted a 4.76 laser timed forty, a 4.03 shuttle, and a 40" vertical.
As a senior at Garber High School in Essexville, MI, VanSumeren hauled in 85 catches for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense to go along with 43 tackles and 4 TFL on defense. At Iowa, he is expected to start out at outside linebacker.
“I haven’t played a ton of linebacker in high school, but I just love playing football and my favorite part about it is hitting people, so I’ll get a good chance to do that at linebacker,” VanSumeren said. “I think the combination with my size and speed and the physicality that I bring to the field, it will be a good fit and I look forward to playing at the highest level in the Big Ten.”
VanSumeren, who plans to return to Iowa City in December for his official visit, is happy to have the weight of his college decision off his shoulders today.
“It feels great,” VanSumeren said. “It feels great that everything that I’ve worked for is coming together.”
Overall, VanSumeren is commitment No. 14 for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Class of 2018 and the first from the state of Michigan.
See highlights from VanSumeren’s senior year at Garber in the video below.