Michigan State football betting on 3,000 snaps of experience from defensive tackles

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EAST LANSING — Sometime in mid-August last year, just as coaches wanted to see players the the lead in positional competitions, Alex VanSumeren's injury-filled past disappeared. He emerged from Michigan State football's preseason camp as a somewhat surprising starter in the 2024 season opener.
That doesn't mean he can feel comfortable as a starter for the upcoming season. Not with how deep the Spartans are on the interior of the defensive line.
'Every day is a separation day, really, when you look at it,' VanSumeren said after practice Tuesday, Aug. 12. 'No matter who you are, no matter what you've done in the past, you gotta earn it every single day because rent's due. That's my mindset, and that's the midset of the defense and the team as a whole. So basically, when you get that in your mind, that's when guys can really start to take that next step.'
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Despite lacking a pass-rush presence from the edge, defensive tackle might be the deepest and most experienced spot for MSU this season. VanSumeren is back alongside former transfers Jalen Satchell, Ben Roberts and Ru'Quan Buckley for their second seasons together, with offseason pickup Grady Kelly joining them after two prior high major stops. Those five have combined to play nearly 3,000 snaps at the FBS level.
Add in up-and-comers Mikeshun Beeler and Derrick Simmons, and defensive line coach Lego Suiaunoa loves the clay he gets to mold on a daily basis on the interior.
'We're pretty fortunate right now,' Suiaunoa said Tuesday. "I think we're in a really, really good position in terms of having the numbers inside. Its'a good place to be at. Now, I always tell the guys, 'Give me a reason to rotate you.' '
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound VanSumeren started all 12 games last season, picking up 16 tackles and 1½ sacks in a career-best 333 snaps. The 12 starts next to him went to since-departed seniors in D'Quan Douse and Maverick Hansen, while Satchel had 213 snaps in his first season after arriving from Old Dominion, Roberts 128 after arriving from Oregon and Buckley 127 after transferring from Nebraska.
'It's very competitive,' said the 6-1, 293-pound Satchell, who has 41 tackles in 38 games with MSU, ODU and Temple (his first school). 'We gotta bring our A-game every day. This is that type of room that, if you have a bad day, then somebody can replace you that fast.'
Buckley, a senior, is a massive presence at 6-5 and 325 pounds, while Roberts also is stout at 6-2 and 335 pounds as a fourth-year junior. Kelly arrives after playing 204 snaps at Florida State last year. The 6-2, 295-pound senior owns the most experience, having played 1,029 snaps at Colorado State in 2022 and 2023. He has 98 career tackles (11½ for loss) and 3½ sacks over four seasons.
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'We're rolling depth-wise. We got people to roll,' said Kelly, who has started 22 of his 38 career games. 'This is probably the deepest room I've ever been a part of. We could roll six deep, and I don't think there's a dropoff on the field.'
Beeler (6-2, 293) preserved a redshirt but debuted last season with three plays against Prairie View A&M. Coaches have raved about the Chicago native's growth in his second camp while also praising Simmons, a 6-3, 297-pound true freshman from Frankenmuth.
'Interior defensive line, we're pretty deep,' coach Jonathan Smith said. 'I mean, we've got some guys there. … I like the additions. Feeling that we have options there, that's competitive.'
That depth, Smith said, is what he hopes will allow Suiaunoa to rotate frequently. But the position coach also wants someone in the group to take their own VanSumeren-like leap in the second scrimmage of camp, set for Saturday, Aug. 16.
'We got a group of guys that we feel like are above the line that's gonna help us win football games,' Suiaunoa said. 'Ideally, you'd like to take the guys that are doing the heavy lifting, they're gonna play until we have a chance to rotate other guys in. I think over the course of a season, because we do got a deep group, it's gonna naturally happen. I think guys are gonna get tired, or if they're on three or four plays, well, that guy's fifth play is probably not as good as this guy's first play. …
'Now, I tell the guys, 'Hey, I want to see how much gas you got in the tank.' That was a big thing going into the scrimmage – how many plays can we get you before I have to sub you?'
Contact Chris Solari: [e-mail]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football defensive tackles banking on deep experience