BOOM! Four-star defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren commits to Michigan State

WELL HELLO EVERYBODY, HOW’S YOUR FRIDAY GOING?

OURS IS GOING GREAT, THANKS FOR ASKING. AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU ALEX VANSUMEREN FOR BRINGING THE SENSATIONAL VIBES.

/takes deep exhale

Spartan gang, this is a big one.

Alex VanSumeren — the No. 180-ranked player in the nation per 247Sports — committed to Michigan State in a surprise reveal on Friday morning. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound, four-star defensive lineman gives the 2022 class its highest-rated commitment yet and its second four-star pledge this week, joining Antonio Gates Jr.

VanSumeren is the No. 26-ranked defensive lineman in the 2022 class, and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Michigan. His .9269 rating is now the second-highest rated commit in the Mel Tucker era, being slightly edged by 2021 linebacker Ma’a Gaoteote with his .9316 rating.

Mel Tucker and company beat out some steep competition for the Essexville-based prospect, as VanSumeren also held offers from Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Penn State, Stanford, Michigan and, hell, probably some NFL teams, too.

The former Michigan commit will, of course, be following his older brother to East Lansing as Ben VanSumeren transferred from the Paul Bunyan-less program to Michigan State this offseason.