Lincoln Riley didn’t hide how much he likes what USC added in the trenches this offseason, and one name kept coming up in Chicago on July 28: Alex VanSumeren.
Speaking at the annual Big Ten Conference Media Days at Hilton Chicago, Riley pointed to the Trojans’ strong 2026 haul - a class that ranked No. 1 nationally - and the transfer help that came with it. VanSumeren, the lone 2026 portal addition Riley brought up, clearly stood out to him.
“Alex VanSumeren [was] one of the guys we identified once he jumped in the portal in terms of not only his experience, but his play style and his leadership capability,” Riley explained to reporters. “Having a leader or bell cow that has experience and that type of mentality that Alex does is very, very key.”
The 6-2, 295-pound defensive tackle arrives from Michigan State with production and a reputation for doing the dirty work inside. He finished with 52 total tackles and two stops behind the line of scrimmage, and in 2024 he added 16 tackles and 2.5 for a loss in East Lansing, Michigan.
For USC, that kind of presence matters. Riley admitted the Trojans didn’t defend the run well last season, and VanSumeren looks like the type of body and temperament they wanted to help fix it.
The Bay City, Michigan native is also making the move far from home, but he said the pull of USC was too strong to pass up. In comments to Kendell Hollowell of USC Trojans on SI, VanSumeren said, “It's a tradition-rich program,” VanSumeren began.
“Everyone knows USC football. I couldn't turn down the opportunity to play with these teammates and with this program.”
USC didn’t bring just one interior defender to the media days stage. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri was there too, along with quarterback Jayden Maiava. Jahkeem Stewart, another interior defender expected to take a big step this fall, was not present after spending the offseason working to sharpen his pass-rushing skills.
That group gives USC a real chance to roll out a disruptive interior front. Stewart and Abasiri are projected as the starters inside, and both bring length, energy and the ability to push through guards or even double teams. Abasiri, in particular, flashed that kind of force last season.
VanSumeren fits right into that picture. His active hands and relentless motor were already on USC’s radar before the Trojans landed him through the portal, and the staff sees him as more than just another body. He can help clog running lanes, rotate in when needed and give new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson another option in short-yardage or goal-line situations.
For a USC defense trying to get tougher up front, Riley’s praise for VanSumeren says plenty.
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