Essexville-Garber 2018 ATH Ben VanSummeren Signing Day Interview

Essexville-Garber 2018 ATH Ben VanSummeren is a 6’3 235 lbs prospect that recently flipped his verbal commitment to the University of Michigan after being committed to Iowa as recently as a week ago.

In the last week Ben has received an offer from Michigan, had Coach Harbaugh and staff come visit him at Garber, and Ben paid the favor back by taking his Official Visit to Michigan this last weekend. After all of that chaos, Ben decided to commit to Michigan sunday and signed his Letter of Intent to play at the University today, December 20th.

Ben had a few things to say about his last week and the whirlwind of the recruiting process.

“This year they decided to take a FB on scholarship which they haven’t really done in the past and they thought I was the best guy in the country to offer.”

Ben then went on to talk about what his favorite thing about Michigan was and it was a pretty good answer.

“Coach Harbaugh. He’s a pretty good guy.” Ben says with a chuckle.

“We have a pretty good relationship, he came down here sat in this office and we had a good time.”

VanSummeren wasn’t shy when talking about who he looks up to for Michigan either.

“Khalid Hill. I’m going to be playing his position and his role he’s had the last couple of years.”

Garber isn’t a normal High School for sending Division 1 Big Ten Recruits and VanSummeren knows that and also discusses what he plans on doing this offseason.

“I think it’s awesome, not too many kids have played Division 1 football around here or the Big Ten at all.”

“I’m going to be in the weight room a lot and already have been, keep it consistent and keep it going.”

VanSummeren finished his senior season with an incredible 85 catches which is good enough to finish 9th overall in a single season, but VanSummeren is the only player to have that many catches in a 9 game schedule and only played receiver for 7 of those games.

VanSummeren was the Mid-Michigan Class B Offensive Player of The Year in 2017 on top of being first team All-State on every single Media Outlet that does the lists.