Reed enhances status as likely second day pick, VanSumeren surprises at Michigan State Pro Day
East Lansing, Mich. – After successful showings at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine former Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed didn’t need to do much testing during the Spartans annual Pro Day. But what the 5-foot-11, 187-pound Michigan State wideout did do was enhance the likelihood of being drafted on the second day of the NFL Draft, which also happens to be Reed’s birthday.
“My birthday is on Day 2 so hopefully we can get somewhere in the second or third round but anywhere my name gets called, I’m going to be excited and I’m going to be grateful,’’ Reed said. “I’ve gotten a lot of feedback (that) really I’m just a versatile player. I can play punt return, kick return, outside, inside (receiver), gunner (on punts), anything you can name. That’s what a lot of teams liked about me.’’
Reed, who did 13 reps on the bench press, ran routes and caught passes from his Michigan State teammate and longtime friend, redshirt senior Payton Thorne and stepped outside of the Duffy Daugherty Football Complex to shag punts off the jugs machine.
Scouts from the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers watched Reed haul in punts.
With representatives from the NFL, the CFL and even the USFL on hand for the Michigan State Pro Day, Reed, along with 11 other former Spartans, looked smooth and confident in the on-field drills to keep his stock on the rise for the 2023 NFL Draft is set for April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Punter Bryce Baringer, tight end Daniel Barker, safety Kendell Brooks, running back Jarek Broussard, offensive guard Matt Carrick, safety Xavier Henderson, offensive tackle Jarrett Horst, tight end Tyler Hunt, defensive tackle Jacob Slade, linebacker Ben VanSumeren and cornerback Ronald Williams all participated in drills but Reed is expected to be the first Michigan State player selected in the three-day draft.
While, there will at least 10-12 quality wideouts expected to be drafted during the first two days, former Spartan Bennie Fowler – who was in attendance, along with former Spartans and NFL performers Javon Ringer, Darqueze Dennard, Kurtis Drummond and Gerald Holmes, who spent time in the Seattle Seahawks camp – said Reed has created an added advantage for himself in terms of making it to the next level.
“I think it’s super important (to be a special teams asset),” Fowler said of his NFL career where he played with the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints. “When I think back, I played a little bit of special teams when I was here (at MSU) and early on in my (NFL) career. You know, you got guys that go undrafted, and they tell you, the only way you’re gonna make this team is by first playing on special teams. So I think it’s an incredible part. You have to be an incredible part of special teams. When I think about some of the big plays that I made throughout my professional career, whether it be in New Orleans, or Denver or New York, they were all on special teams as well.
“Jayden ran back punts successfully. So I just figured that’s got to increase your stock, whether you go on day two or the last day, So yeah, it definitely will increase the stock and talking to some of the scouts here they know he has been a returner and that he’s an incredible receiver. Being multifaceted is definitely going to increase his stock.’’
VanSumeren turns heads at Michigan State Pro Day
Much like AJ Arcuri’s breakout performance at last year’s Michigan State Pro Day, the program had another surprise performer at this year’s evaluation in linebacker Ben VanSumeren, who put up ridiculous measurables on Wednesday.
Arcuri’s measureables eventually landed him on the L.A. Rams roster after coming into his Pro Day as an unknown.
Could the same happen for VanSumeren? His measurables were comparable or better than most of the linebackers who tested at the NFL Combine. And VanSumeren will certainly pique the curiosity of NFL scouts, and spur them to take a second look at his Michigan State game film. When scouts evaluate that film, they will have to determine whether he has the instincts to play the position effectively.
VanSumeren opened the day with a 42.5-inch vertical jump and a leap of 10’11” in the broad jump, which would have both ranked No. 1 for linebackers at the combine. He then put up 29 reps on the bench press of 225 pounds and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash. All of those numbers would have tied for first and ranked second in his position group at the combine, respectively.
Despite his breakout testing performance VanSumeren, who has played nearly every position during his football career, dating back to high school, except offensive line, said he has no expectations and just wanted a chance to prove himself going forward in the process.
“You know, we’ll see. I haven’t really even thought about that. I’m like, okay, go have a go, have good days leading up to pro day and have a great day,’’ he said. “I’m not even really thinking about there yet. That’s a month and a half away. So I’m just focused on all the stuff that I can do between here and now leading up to the draft.’’
Can Slade get drafted twice?
Defensive tackle Jacob Slade had a solid day of testing but came into the day with an interesting distinction. Slade, who missed part of last season with an injury that sidelined him for four games, along with Horst were the only Spartans who had already been drafted – by the USFL.
Slade, whose rights are now owned by the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers, after he was taken 65th overall in the ninth round, could already call himself a pro.
He finished his Spartan career with 88 tackles, including 11.5 for a loss, four sacks, four pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and a blocked field goal while making 26 starts in 42 career games over five seasons at MSU.
Horst was drafted No. 1 overall by the Michigan Panthers, but it was Slade who found it interesting that his rights were already owned by a professional football league team on Wednesday. In testing, the 6-4, 305-pound Slade finished with 24 reps on the bench and a 31-inch vertical jump. He ran approximately just under five seconds in the 40-yard dash.
The Draft Network lists Slade as the 379th best player available and the No. 23 best interior defensive lineman available to be taken in the draft.
“Yeah, that caught me off guard a little bit,” Slade said. “I was getting ready for the NFL Draft and I got a call the day before the USFL drops and they say, ‘hey, I want to take you tomorrow as well.’ So I think if I ever decide to go to that league, then that team would have the rights is what I’ve been told. Obviously, the goal is still the goal for sure (but I guess it’s) a fallback plan.’’
Security Blanket
Punter Bryce Baringer, who is expected to be the first punter taken in this year’s draft after leading the nation in average yards per punt , as well as impressive outings at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine was carrying around a football all day as if it was his emotional support animal.
When asked if that was his security blanket, the Michigan State punter just smiled and said, “Yup.”
Baringer didn’t participate in most of the testing but did step outside to give scouts a few more looks of his punting acumen.
“It’s cool having the story that I have but I’m trying to re-write (that story) from here on out,’’ he said. “You never know what’s going on and that’s, that’s the hardest part. It’s all a guessing game. You (just) try and have fun with it and just put your best foot forward.’’
No pun intended? Or maybe so.
