It’s A Record Year for Saquon Barkley.
Another Eagle Deserves Great Credit for the Yardage Racked Up.
It’s coming right at you, right into your living room. Use the lavatory, and you might miss it. Don’t blink; it will be over in the blink of an eye.
I’m not talking about the pile-driving-dump-trucking-brotherly-shoving-Tush-Push; that’s a given.
When Eagles running back Saquon Barkley hits that second-level, there are very few NFL defenders who can prevent him from taking it all the way.
Just ask the Los Angeles Rams. Or the Dallas Cowboys. Or the New Orleans Saints. Or the Green Bay Packers in front of a Brazilian crowd. And if you see one of the power runs when Saquon turns on the jets and propels into the secondary — chances are it was thanks to a block from Eagles linebacker and fullback Ben VanSumeren.
For VanSumeren — football has been his dream since he was six. At Garber High School in Michigan — there was hardly a position that he didn’t play. But he was primarily known as a wide receiver — where, as a senior, he totaled 81 receptions for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns and was the Associated Press Division Player of the Year.
When it came to college, an early commitment to Iowa wouldn’t stop him from finally deciding to stay in his home state and play for Michigan. Playing as a fullback for Michigan for two years, VanSumeren was born to play. In 2021 — he transferred to Michigan State. Going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Van Sumermen signed with the Eagles and was placed on the Practice Squad. On November 5th — he played his first game against Eagles rival Dallas Cowboys. On Christmas Day last year — he had six tackles against the Giants in the 33–25 win.
This year, VanSumermen has been asked to block, to provide the springboard for possibly the best offensive player the Eagles have ever had to spring to daylight.
It’s a role that he delivers with devastating effect.
PHOTO: NFL/Twitter/X
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