Michigan State University Athletics
Tight end Daniel Barker will look to impress NFL scouts and coaches this week at the East-West Shrine Game in Las Vegas.
Daniel Barker, Ben VanSumeren Set to Compete in East-West Shrine Bowl
1/30/2023 2:55:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State tight end Daniel Barker and linebacker Ben VanSumeren will compete in the 98th annual East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday, Feb. 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Barker (No. 89) and VanSumeren (No. 43) are practicing in Las Vegas all week in front of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel, looking to improve their draft stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft (April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri). They will both play for the East team, which is being coached by the staff of the Atlanta Falcons.
Kickoff for the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised live on the NFL Network.
Daniel Barker | TE | 6-4 | 250 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Career Bio (PDF)
CAREER NOTES: Graduate transfer from Illinois joined the Spartan program in May 2022 for his fifth season of eligibility . . . four-year letterwinner at Illinois (2018-21) . . . had 85 career receptions for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns in 57 career games, with 27 starts (had 21 catches for 239 yards and two TDs in 12 games with six starts at MSU; had 64 receptions for 827 yards and 11 touchdowns in 45 games at Illinois, including 21 starts at tight end) . . . eclipsed the 1,000 career-yard receiving mark in the Rutgers game (11/12/22) . . . had the most TD catches (11) of any tight end in Fighting Illini history.
2022 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR AT MICHIGAN STATE): Had a career-high 21 catches for 239 yards in 12 games, starting in six games . . . had two touchdown receptions . . . logged 353 snaps at tight end . . . 14-of-21 (.667) receptions went for first down or touchdown . . . had multiple catches in five games . . . snared three receptions for 30 yards in Indiana game, with two going for first downs . . . had four catches for 64 yards, including a 26-yard TD pass, vs. Rutgers . . . played 26 snaps in starting assignment at Illinois . . . had two catches for 15 yards at Michigan, with one going for a first down on a 9-yard catch on fourh-and-9 . . . snared one reception for 8 yards and first down on a third-and-5 play on MSU's second TD drive in Wisconsin game; tallied 33 snaps against the Badgers . . . had two receptions for 22 yards at Maryland, both going for first downs, with the first coming on third-and-6 and keeping MSU drive alive that resulted in first TD of game . . . had one catch for 18 yards vs. Minnesota . . . had a career-high reception total with seven catches for 69 yards at Washington in 45 snaps, with three going for first downs, topping previous career best of five catches accomplished twice during Illinois career, most recently vs. UTSA (9/24/21) . . . also topped new MSU season high for yards with 69, marking fourth career game with 60-plus receiving yards, after three occasions at Illinois . . . saw action in 26 snaps in Akron game, and was target on one pass that he made acrobatic catch along sideline but was ruled out-of-bounds . . . had smashing Spartan debut, as he caught his first reception as a Spartan for a 13-yard TD in the second quarter on a one-handed grab in the south corner of the end zone.
2021 SEASON (SENIOR AT ILLINOIS): Ranked third on the team with 18 receptions for 202 receiving yards . . . played in all 12 regular-season games, including five starts . . . tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns . . . tied for the team lead with five touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing) . . . ranked 17th in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (4) . . . had two catches for 47 yards vs. Rutgers, including a 26-yard TD grab . . . had a 10-yard TD reception vs. Charlotte . . . hauled in a career-best five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns vs. UTSA; became first Illinois tight end to record two TD catches in a game since Matt LaCosse in 2013.
2020 SEASON (JUNIOR AT ILLINOIS): Played in all eight games and started five at tight end . . . had 19 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns . . . ranked second on the team in catches and receiving yards . . . had three receptions for 54 yards and a TD at Penn State in the regular-season finale . . . caught four passes for 40 yards vs. Iowa . . . had a season-best five catches for 74 yards vs. Purdue.
2019 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT ILLINOIS): Played in all 13 games and started eight at tight end . . . had 18 receptions for a career-best 273 receiving yards and four touchdowns . . . ranked second on the team in TD catches and third in receiving yards . . . hauled in three passes for 55 yards and a 5-yard TD in the Redbox Bowl vs. Cal . . . had the game-winning last-second touchdown catch at Michigan State to help Illinois finish the biggest comeback in program history in a 37-34 win . . . recorded three receptions for 37 yards vs. No. 6 Wisconsin to help Illinois win 24-23 . . . had four catches for 90 yards, including a 52-yard reception, vs. Eastern Michigan . . . had two receptions for 44 yards at Connecticut, including an 18-yard TD grab . . . had a 2-yard TD catch in season-opener vs. Akron.
2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT ILLINOIS): Played all 12 games with three starts at tight end . . . had nine receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown . . . first career touchdown came against Minnesota on Nov. 3 on a 30-yard reception . . . had three catches for 19 yards vs. Penn State . . . had three receptions for 30 yards vs. USF . . . started his first collegiate game as a true freshman, becoming just the second true freshman tight end to start a season opener in Illinois history.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Played high school football at Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida . . . earned Sun Sentinel honorable mention accolades in 2017 . . . helped Deerfield Beach reach the Class 8A state playoffs his senior season in 2017 . . . played at Boyd Anderson Senior High School in Lauderdale Lakes as a junior in 2016 . . . born Sept. 23, 1999 . . . graduated with a bachelor's degree from Illinois in May 2022.
Ben VanSumeren | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Bay City, Mich.
Career Bio (PDF)
CAREER NOTES: Two-year letterwinner (2021-22) played in 24 games for the Spartans . . . transferred in May 2021 from Michigan . . . played in 39 collegiate career games overall (15 games at UM from 2018-20; 24 games at MSU in 2021-22) with 13 starts (two at UM in 2020, one at MSU in 2021, 10 at MSU in 2022) . . . earned three letters for the Wolverines (2018-20) and two for the Spartans (2021-22) . . . had 100 career tackles (seven in 2020 at UM, 12 in 2021 at MSU, 81 in 2022 at MSU), with 4.0 tackles for loss (31 yards), 2.0 sacks (22 yards) and two pass break-ups, adding nine career carries for 20 yards and one rushing TD (all at UM).
2022 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR): Started at linebacker in 10 games in playing in 11 contests, missing one game due to injury . . . registered a career-high 81 tackles (27 solo, 54 assists), which ranked third on the team . . . had with 3.0 tackles for loss (30 yards), 2.0 sacks (22 yards), two pass break-ups and one QB hurry . . . played a career-high 626 snaps at linebacker . . . also appeared in 111 special teams plays . . . had four double-digit tackle outings, including a career-high 14 vs. Maryland in Week 5 . . . had four solo tackles in 65 snaps while starting at linebacker vs. Penn State . . . started at linebacker against Indiana and notched six stops with 1.0 TFL on 1.0 sack for second straight game with a sack, in playing 38 snaps . . . was credited with a 13-yard sack on an intentional grounding call in the second quarter of the Rutgers game for first sack of collegiate career, and tallied eight stops overall on the day in playing 46 snaps . . . returned to action in game at Illinois and registered 10 tackles for fourth double-digit tackle performance of the season, logging 50 snaps . . .did not play at Michigan game due to injury . . . tallied two tackles in Wisconsin game, registering 18 plays . . . recorded eight stops in Ohio State, starting the contest at linebacker and playing 70 snaps . . . posted a career-high 14 tackles (five solo, nine assists) after starting at linebacker at Maryland, in playing in 75 of the 78 defensive snaps . . . started at linebacker in Minnesota game, tallying 11 stops in playing 77 snaps . . . was starting linebacker at Washington, notching six tackles . . . started Akron game at linebacker, logging one tackle and first career pass break-up, adding one QB hurry in 43 snaps . . . made second start of Spartan career by starting season opener vs. Western Michigan at linebacker, logging 11 tackles, which nearly matched his 2021 total of 12 tackles . . . added one tackle for loss while playing 64 snaps, leading the Spartan linebacker corps and ranking fourth overall on the defense.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 13 games to earn his first letter at MSU . . . collected 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists) . . . logged 122 defensive snaps and 133 special teams plays . . . was in on 15 special teams plays in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. No. 12 Pitt . . . posted one stop in Penn State game on opening kickoff of second half, part of 10 special teams plays . . . recorded career-high four tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss, at Ohio State in logging 24 snaps . . . saw limited action on both defense and special teams in Maryland game . . . saw special teams action at Purdue . . . was in on special teams in Michigan game against his former team . . . saw limited action on defense and special teams at Indiana . . . started at linebacker at Rutgers in place of Cal Haladay and recorded one tackle in 15 snaps . . . logged one tackle in playing 14 defensive snaps in Western Kentucky contest . . . posted one tackle in playing seven snaps in Nebraska game . . . notched one tackle in playing seven snaps at Miami . . . posted three tackles in playing 28 snaps in home-opener against Youngstown State . . . made Spartan debut in season-opening win at Northwestern, playing 20 defensive snaps.
2020 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE AT MICHIGAN): Played in all six games, including two starts at linebacker (vs. Indiana and Penn State), to earn his third letter . . . also saw time on special teams . . . compiled seven tackles . . . had a season-high three tackles, all assists, at Rutgers . . . moved to linebacker from fullback for the 2020 season.
2019 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT MICHIGAN): Appeared in five games to earn his second letter . . . had five carries for 20 yards as a fullback . . . had four carries for 7 yards and his first career touchdown vs. Middle Tennessee . . . also saw time on special teams.
2018 SEASON (MICHIGAN): Played in four games, two at fullback and two on special teams, to receive his first letter but preserved his redshirt season . . . made his collegiate debut against Western Michigan on Sept. 8.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Played at Garber High School in Essexville, Michigan . . . finished his high school career with 176 receptions for 2,888 yards and 29 touchdowns . . . led Bay County in receiving for three consecutive years . . . also rushed for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns on 160 carries and was 13-of-27 passing for 279 yards and four TDs . . . on defense, collected 79 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two sacks, along with four interceptions during his career . . . three-time MLive Bay City Dream Team selection (2015-17) and 2017 Bay City Player of the Year (MLive) . . . participated in the 2017 Nike The Opening in Cleveland and won overall ratings MVP at the camp . . . had 43 stops, four TFLs and one sack as a senior in 2017 . . . had 85 receptions, a state record for the regular-season only, for 1,259 yards and 13 TDs during his senior year . . . was also 11-of-25 passing for 249 yards and three TDs . . . rushed for 387 yards on 54 carries (7.2 avg.) with six TDs . . . named the Associated Press Player of the Year for Divisions 5-6 as a senior . . . also named first-team all-state by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News . . . was a Dream Team selection by The Detroit News as a senior in 2017 . . . was named one of the top overall prospects in the state of Michigan in the class of 2017 by ESPN.com (No. 14), Rivals.com (No. 15) and 247Sports (No. 15) . . . caught 49 passes for 776 yards and eight scores and rushed for 489 yards and six TDs as a junior in 2016 . . . had 42 receptions for 853 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore . . . born May 5, 2000 . . . son of Jeff and Cindy VanSumeren . . . younger brother, Alex, is a defensive lineman for the Spartans.
Barker (No. 89) and VanSumeren (No. 43) are practicing in Las Vegas all week in front of NFL coaches, scouts and personnel, looking to improve their draft stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft (April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri). They will both play for the East team, which is being coached by the staff of the Atlanta Falcons.
Kickoff for the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised live on the NFL Network.
Put on a show, @DB9_Era 💪 pic.twitter.com/rbEUPCjDW4
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) December 13, 2022
Daniel Barker | TE | 6-4 | 250 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Career Bio (PDF)
CAREER NOTES: Graduate transfer from Illinois joined the Spartan program in May 2022 for his fifth season of eligibility . . . four-year letterwinner at Illinois (2018-21) . . . had 85 career receptions for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns in 57 career games, with 27 starts (had 21 catches for 239 yards and two TDs in 12 games with six starts at MSU; had 64 receptions for 827 yards and 11 touchdowns in 45 games at Illinois, including 21 starts at tight end) . . . eclipsed the 1,000 career-yard receiving mark in the Rutgers game (11/12/22) . . . had the most TD catches (11) of any tight end in Fighting Illini history.
2022 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR AT MICHIGAN STATE): Had a career-high 21 catches for 239 yards in 12 games, starting in six games . . . had two touchdown receptions . . . logged 353 snaps at tight end . . . 14-of-21 (.667) receptions went for first down or touchdown . . . had multiple catches in five games . . . snared three receptions for 30 yards in Indiana game, with two going for first downs . . . had four catches for 64 yards, including a 26-yard TD pass, vs. Rutgers . . . played 26 snaps in starting assignment at Illinois . . . had two catches for 15 yards at Michigan, with one going for a first down on a 9-yard catch on fourh-and-9 . . . snared one reception for 8 yards and first down on a third-and-5 play on MSU's second TD drive in Wisconsin game; tallied 33 snaps against the Badgers . . . had two receptions for 22 yards at Maryland, both going for first downs, with the first coming on third-and-6 and keeping MSU drive alive that resulted in first TD of game . . . had one catch for 18 yards vs. Minnesota . . . had a career-high reception total with seven catches for 69 yards at Washington in 45 snaps, with three going for first downs, topping previous career best of five catches accomplished twice during Illinois career, most recently vs. UTSA (9/24/21) . . . also topped new MSU season high for yards with 69, marking fourth career game with 60-plus receiving yards, after three occasions at Illinois . . . saw action in 26 snaps in Akron game, and was target on one pass that he made acrobatic catch along sideline but was ruled out-of-bounds . . . had smashing Spartan debut, as he caught his first reception as a Spartan for a 13-yard TD in the second quarter on a one-handed grab in the south corner of the end zone.
2021 SEASON (SENIOR AT ILLINOIS): Ranked third on the team with 18 receptions for 202 receiving yards . . . played in all 12 regular-season games, including five starts . . . tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns . . . tied for the team lead with five touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing) . . . ranked 17th in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (4) . . . had two catches for 47 yards vs. Rutgers, including a 26-yard TD grab . . . had a 10-yard TD reception vs. Charlotte . . . hauled in a career-best five passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns vs. UTSA; became first Illinois tight end to record two TD catches in a game since Matt LaCosse in 2013.
2020 SEASON (JUNIOR AT ILLINOIS): Played in all eight games and started five at tight end . . . had 19 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns . . . ranked second on the team in catches and receiving yards . . . had three receptions for 54 yards and a TD at Penn State in the regular-season finale . . . caught four passes for 40 yards vs. Iowa . . . had a season-best five catches for 74 yards vs. Purdue.
2019 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT ILLINOIS): Played in all 13 games and started eight at tight end . . . had 18 receptions for a career-best 273 receiving yards and four touchdowns . . . ranked second on the team in TD catches and third in receiving yards . . . hauled in three passes for 55 yards and a 5-yard TD in the Redbox Bowl vs. Cal . . . had the game-winning last-second touchdown catch at Michigan State to help Illinois finish the biggest comeback in program history in a 37-34 win . . . recorded three receptions for 37 yards vs. No. 6 Wisconsin to help Illinois win 24-23 . . . had four catches for 90 yards, including a 52-yard reception, vs. Eastern Michigan . . . had two receptions for 44 yards at Connecticut, including an 18-yard TD grab . . . had a 2-yard TD catch in season-opener vs. Akron.
2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT ILLINOIS): Played all 12 games with three starts at tight end . . . had nine receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown . . . first career touchdown came against Minnesota on Nov. 3 on a 30-yard reception . . . had three catches for 19 yards vs. Penn State . . . had three receptions for 30 yards vs. USF . . . started his first collegiate game as a true freshman, becoming just the second true freshman tight end to start a season opener in Illinois history.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Played high school football at Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida . . . earned Sun Sentinel honorable mention accolades in 2017 . . . helped Deerfield Beach reach the Class 8A state playoffs his senior season in 2017 . . . played at Boyd Anderson Senior High School in Lauderdale Lakes as a junior in 2016 . . . born Sept. 23, 1999 . . . graduated with a bachelor's degree from Illinois in May 2022.
Shrine Bowl bound 📩@benvansumeren x @ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/cErgYaqQwL
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 22, 2022
Ben VanSumeren | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Bay City, Mich.
Career Bio (PDF)
CAREER NOTES: Two-year letterwinner (2021-22) played in 24 games for the Spartans . . . transferred in May 2021 from Michigan . . . played in 39 collegiate career games overall (15 games at UM from 2018-20; 24 games at MSU in 2021-22) with 13 starts (two at UM in 2020, one at MSU in 2021, 10 at MSU in 2022) . . . earned three letters for the Wolverines (2018-20) and two for the Spartans (2021-22) . . . had 100 career tackles (seven in 2020 at UM, 12 in 2021 at MSU, 81 in 2022 at MSU), with 4.0 tackles for loss (31 yards), 2.0 sacks (22 yards) and two pass break-ups, adding nine career carries for 20 yards and one rushing TD (all at UM).
2022 SEASON (GRADUATE SENIOR): Started at linebacker in 10 games in playing in 11 contests, missing one game due to injury . . . registered a career-high 81 tackles (27 solo, 54 assists), which ranked third on the team . . . had with 3.0 tackles for loss (30 yards), 2.0 sacks (22 yards), two pass break-ups and one QB hurry . . . played a career-high 626 snaps at linebacker . . . also appeared in 111 special teams plays . . . had four double-digit tackle outings, including a career-high 14 vs. Maryland in Week 5 . . . had four solo tackles in 65 snaps while starting at linebacker vs. Penn State . . . started at linebacker against Indiana and notched six stops with 1.0 TFL on 1.0 sack for second straight game with a sack, in playing 38 snaps . . . was credited with a 13-yard sack on an intentional grounding call in the second quarter of the Rutgers game for first sack of collegiate career, and tallied eight stops overall on the day in playing 46 snaps . . . returned to action in game at Illinois and registered 10 tackles for fourth double-digit tackle performance of the season, logging 50 snaps . . .did not play at Michigan game due to injury . . . tallied two tackles in Wisconsin game, registering 18 plays . . . recorded eight stops in Ohio State, starting the contest at linebacker and playing 70 snaps . . . posted a career-high 14 tackles (five solo, nine assists) after starting at linebacker at Maryland, in playing in 75 of the 78 defensive snaps . . . started at linebacker in Minnesota game, tallying 11 stops in playing 77 snaps . . . was starting linebacker at Washington, notching six tackles . . . started Akron game at linebacker, logging one tackle and first career pass break-up, adding one QB hurry in 43 snaps . . . made second start of Spartan career by starting season opener vs. Western Michigan at linebacker, logging 11 tackles, which nearly matched his 2021 total of 12 tackles . . . added one tackle for loss while playing 64 snaps, leading the Spartan linebacker corps and ranking fourth overall on the defense.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Played in all 13 games to earn his first letter at MSU . . . collected 12 tackles (seven solo, five assists) . . . logged 122 defensive snaps and 133 special teams plays . . . was in on 15 special teams plays in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. No. 12 Pitt . . . posted one stop in Penn State game on opening kickoff of second half, part of 10 special teams plays . . . recorded career-high four tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss, at Ohio State in logging 24 snaps . . . saw limited action on both defense and special teams in Maryland game . . . saw special teams action at Purdue . . . was in on special teams in Michigan game against his former team . . . saw limited action on defense and special teams at Indiana . . . started at linebacker at Rutgers in place of Cal Haladay and recorded one tackle in 15 snaps . . . logged one tackle in playing 14 defensive snaps in Western Kentucky contest . . . posted one tackle in playing seven snaps in Nebraska game . . . notched one tackle in playing seven snaps at Miami . . . posted three tackles in playing 28 snaps in home-opener against Youngstown State . . . made Spartan debut in season-opening win at Northwestern, playing 20 defensive snaps.
2020 SEASON (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE AT MICHIGAN): Played in all six games, including two starts at linebacker (vs. Indiana and Penn State), to earn his third letter . . . also saw time on special teams . . . compiled seven tackles . . . had a season-high three tackles, all assists, at Rutgers . . . moved to linebacker from fullback for the 2020 season.
2019 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT MICHIGAN): Appeared in five games to earn his second letter . . . had five carries for 20 yards as a fullback . . . had four carries for 7 yards and his first career touchdown vs. Middle Tennessee . . . also saw time on special teams.
2018 SEASON (MICHIGAN): Played in four games, two at fullback and two on special teams, to receive his first letter but preserved his redshirt season . . . made his collegiate debut against Western Michigan on Sept. 8.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Played at Garber High School in Essexville, Michigan . . . finished his high school career with 176 receptions for 2,888 yards and 29 touchdowns . . . led Bay County in receiving for three consecutive years . . . also rushed for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns on 160 carries and was 13-of-27 passing for 279 yards and four TDs . . . on defense, collected 79 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two sacks, along with four interceptions during his career . . . three-time MLive Bay City Dream Team selection (2015-17) and 2017 Bay City Player of the Year (MLive) . . . participated in the 2017 Nike The Opening in Cleveland and won overall ratings MVP at the camp . . . had 43 stops, four TFLs and one sack as a senior in 2017 . . . had 85 receptions, a state record for the regular-season only, for 1,259 yards and 13 TDs during his senior year . . . was also 11-of-25 passing for 249 yards and three TDs . . . rushed for 387 yards on 54 carries (7.2 avg.) with six TDs . . . named the Associated Press Player of the Year for Divisions 5-6 as a senior . . . also named first-team all-state by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News . . . was a Dream Team selection by The Detroit News as a senior in 2017 . . . was named one of the top overall prospects in the state of Michigan in the class of 2017 by ESPN.com (No. 14), Rivals.com (No. 15) and 247Sports (No. 15) . . . caught 49 passes for 776 yards and eight scores and rushed for 489 yards and six TDs as a junior in 2016 . . . had 42 receptions for 853 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore . . . born May 5, 2000 . . . son of Jeff and Cindy VanSumeren . . . younger brother, Alex, is a defensive lineman for the Spartans.
Players Mentioned
Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, April 14
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 17