Alex VanSumeren hasn’t spent long at USC, but he’s already earning notice from the man who now runs the Trojans’ defense.
During Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, USC head coach Lincoln Riley singled out the former Michigan State defensive lineman for the kind of presence he has brought into the room almost immediately. Riley said VanSumeren was targeted not just for what he does on the field, but for the way he carries himself.
"Alex VanSumeren, a transfer that came in, was one of the guys that we identified, not only for his playstyle, but his leadership capabilities," Riley said during Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday.
Riley also described VanSumeren as part of a "very talented" defensive line group and said he has already emerged as a leader there.
That kind of praise fits the role VanSumeren is expected to play this season. He is projected to be a major piece for USC up front as the Trojans push toward a Big Ten title run.
For Michigan State, his departure stung. VanSumeren was a steady defensive voice for the Spartans over the last few seasons, and he played in all 24 games across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. By the end of his time in East Lansing, he had appeared in 28 games and finished with 71 tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss, along with three sacks and one pass defended.
He was originally thought to be on track to return for his final season with the Spartans, but he changed course late in the portal window and landed at USC instead. Michigan State won’t see him on the schedule this year, but the move still stands as one of the offseason’s biggest losses for the Spartans.
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