Prior to the first game of the year against San Jose State, USC announced its captains for the 2026 football season. One of those captains was redshirt senior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren.
Having grown up in Michigan, VanSumeren started his career at Michigan State before transferring to USC this past offseason. A recent USC Athletics feature profiled VanSumeren and his journey from a blue-collar family to playing football for the Trojans.
“I try to do everything I can to make [my family and friends] proud,” VanSumeren said. “Not necessarily because of the success itself, but because of the process and work ethic that leads to it.
“I'm from a blue-collar town where all of my buddies work real hard jobs. What they are doing is hard; it puts
things into perspective for me.
“It comes down to the illusion of choice. If you want to be great, there is no choice; you simply work hard and get it done.
“I don’t get tired; I can’t afford to get tired. I love this game, I love competing and I love being physical.”
Last year, USC’s defensive line struggled in some of its biggest games of the season. This year, VanSumeren is hoping to be the difference in helping the unit—and the entire Trojans team—get over the hump.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC’s Alex VanSumeren discusses how his childhood shaped his mindset
