Former Michigan State football LB Ben VanSumeren makes Eagles' roster

Starting his career buried on the Michigan depth chart, Ben VanSumeren knew he needed to make a change if he was ever going to live out his dream of playing in the NFL. So he made a decision that shocked some people and transferred to Michigan State football to play for Mel Tucker.

That's right, transferring away from Jim Harbaugh and to Tucker actually saved his career.

For a few years, VanSumeren was trying to show he belonged on the two-deep at Michigan but the Wolverines felt otherwise and he appeared in just 15 career games over three years at running back and linebacker and recorded 20 rushing yards and a touchdown and seven total tackles.

Ahead of the 2021 season, he transferred to Michigan State and played a backup role for that 11-2 team before taking over as full-time starter in 2022 and he recorded 81 total tackles and three tackles for loss to go along with two sacks and two pass breakups. That was good enough to boost his stock, but he went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Eventually, he caught on with the Eagles' practice squad and was called up where he made nine appearances as a rookie and recorded 13 total tackles.

Ahead of the 2024 season, he was hoping to make the initial 53-man roster, but he knew it wouldn't be a lock. He had to work hard during the preseason and he actually became a star over the past few weeks. And on Tuesday, he received the good news.

According to the Eagles, VanSumeren made the cut.

The former Michigan State linebacker who had to fight for respect throughout his collegiate career worked his way from practice squad to initial 53-man roster in the span of a year.

VanSumeren's story is one of my favorite and it'll be easy to root for him.