Ben VanSumeren’s next NFL stop could put him right back alongside a familiar face.
After being waived by the Buffalo Bills on roster cut day, the former Michigan State linebacker quickly landed with the Chiefs’ practice squad on Monday, where Jordan Schultz reported he signed as a fullback. That setup opens the door for VanSumeren to end up in the same backfield as Kenneth Walker III, his former Peach Bowl champion teammate from Michigan State.
It’s a twist that would have sounded outlandish not long ago. VanSumeren had been carving out a role with the Philadelphia Eagles over his first three seasons before a season-ending injury on the opening kickoff of the 2025 season. He had just won a Super Bowl ring with Philadelphia the year before, while Walker was in Seattle leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl.
Now both players are in Kansas City, and there’s at least a chance Andy Reid uses VanSumeren in the kind of traditional fullback role that can show up in certain matchups. The fit may not arrive immediately, and it might not even happen in the first month or two, but the possibility is there. VanSumeren, at some point, figures to be the guy throwing the key block that helps Walker punch in a touchdown.
Anyone else getting serious Mel Tucker flashbacks?
VanSumeren’s path to this point is one of the stranger ones in the league.
He started out as a tight end prospect at Michigan, then moved to running back in his second year, and later shifted to linebacker during the COVID season. He played 15 games over three years with the Wolverines before transferring to Michigan State, a cross-rival move you don’t see every day. Once he arrived in East Lansing, he settled in at linebacker right away.
His junior year didn’t make much noise on the stat sheet, but he still came away with a Peach Bowl ring. As a senior, he put up 81 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks, then turned heads with his athletic testing at the NFL Combine. He was projected as a late-round pick, went undrafted and signed with the Eagles as a linebacker.
In 2025, Philadelphia moved him to fullback, only for the season to end on that opening kickoff injury.
Now there’s a real chance he ends up paving the way for a former college teammate and Super Bowl MVP running back.
What a wild ride it’s been.
In Other News...
Michigan States New Era Already Comes With An Uncomfortable Opener
Pat Fitzgeralds first game-week press conference as Michigan States head coach had the expected tone of a coach trying to set the table for a long season, but it also served as an early reminder of how little room there is for patience in a new era. Fitzgerald called Toledo a strong program and made clear the opener will not be a walk-through, a familiar warning for any Spartans fan who has watched the school navigate a string of season debuts under previous coaches.
The timing matters because the betting line has already drifted slightly in Toledos favor, a small move that has not gone unnoticed in East Lansing. It is only one game, and the opener has a way of exposing every fresh start for what it really is, but Michigan States first chance to show signs of life under Fitzgerald now carries a little more edge than anyone probably wanted this early. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Samac Just Landed A Fresh NFL Chance For Michigan State Fans
Nick Samacs NFL path has already taken a few turns, and the former Michigan State center has now found another landing spot. Minnesota claimed him off waivers after Carolina moved on from him, giving the Spartans product a fresh chance to stick in a new locker room as he keeps working to carve out a place in the league.
Samac spent last season with the Panthers, appearing in 11 games and working mostly on special teams, a role that can matter just as much as depth on the offensive line for teams trying to survive a long season. It is another opportunity for a player who never got to suit up for Baltimore after the Ravens drafted him in 2024 because of injury, and now the next step will be seeing how Minnesota chooses to use him. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Defensive Hype Comes Down To A Few Huge Bets
Michigan States defensive reset for 2026 is starting to take shape around a handful of familiar names and a few calculated moves. Jordan Hall is back for a fourth year, giving the Spartans a proven presence at linebacker after he emerged as one of the units most reliable playmakers last season. Around him, the roster picture is getting clearer with key returnees such as free safety Nikai Martinez and defensive back Charles Brantley, both of whom missed meaningful time because of injuries but are expected to be part of the mix next fall.
Kenny Soares Jr. is one of the more interesting additions to watch after arriving from NC State and moving from linebacker to rush end, a shift that could help define how Michigan State wants to attack opposing quarterbacks. The fact that teammates also honored him with the No. 1 jersey says something about the early impression he has made inside the program. For a defense trying to turn hype into production, these are the kinds of bets that could matter most when 2026 arrives. [Read more 🡒]