Auburn football: Tigers make 4-star DT Alex VanSumeren’s top 10

Auburn football recruiting for the class of 2023 is heating up, and new head coach Bryan Harsin has already accepted the fact that recruiting in the SEC is an intense, year-round process. Just yesterday, the Tigers were named in the final ten schools of 4-star defensive tackle Alex VanSumeren.

Though he originally committed to Michigan, VanSumeren de-committed from the Wolverines back in February on the same day his older brother, a three-year veteran of the team, announced he would be entering the NCAA Transfer Portal. Since, the 4-star prospect has had Power 5 offers pouring in, but now only 10–including Auburn–have made the cut.

The Tigers will have to battle for VanSumeren with Alabama and Texas A&M in the SEC, but he’s also being heavily pursued by Clemson and Michigan State, where his older brother will be spending the 2021-22 season.

Ranked as the #4 recruit out of the state of Michigan and the #16 defensive tackle in the recruiting class of 2022, the 300-pound defensive tackle is known for his explosiveness and energy. VanSumeren finished up his junior season at Essexville Garber High School with 63 tackles and eight sacks as well as being selected for first-team All-State defensive line.

So far, Bryan Harsin’s Auburn football team has only three commits to the recruiting class of 2022 in OLB Powell Gordon, CB Jarell Stinson, and QB Holden Geriner. With the injury of Jeremiah Wright shortening the depth for the Tigers and the switch of J.J. Pegues from the offense to the defense, it’s not a bad idea to be recruiting highly-ranked DTs for the coming years.

Though the Tigers will face heavy competition from Alabama, Clemson, and Michigan State, Auburn sells itself, and Alex VanSumeren could find himself relocating to the south very soon.