The difference is startling. The Ben VanSumeren who joined the Eagles in 2023 as a non-drafted rookie free agent had played much of his football life on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage, so when he was told he would be a linebacker here, it was more than a foreign idea.

It was, really, VanSumeren says now, a chance to explore a way to conquer the unknown. He has never backed off a challenge, and this was most definitely that.

"It was ... very different," VanSumeren says now, laughing. "I'm always looking for the next thing to improve on and get better at and so that is the way I approached it."

VanSumeren, an extraordinary athlete, was waived by the Eagles when the team reached its 53-man roster limit last season but then carved out a niche in practice, earned a couple of elevations to the active roster on gamedays, and then finally was moved to the active roster. He played in nine games, was a core member of the special teams units, and had enough time at linebacker to gain a taste.

And then what did he do. He "hit the ground running once the season was over with my own development" and by the end of this summer, there was no doubt: VanSumeren was good enough to be on the 53 and, more than that, he plans to be a part of things on special teams and on defense in 2024.

What a difference a year makes!

"I don't leave a stone unturned," said VanSumeren, who played in 50 defensive snaps and 180 special teams snaps last season. "All the things that factor into my game and make me the player that I am, I've tried to focus on and I think that's really helped me going into this year."

In many ways for players, especially linebackers, is to improve the eyes. There is so much going on for a linebacker to see – "eye candy" they call it, and players have to sort through what is real and what is meant to divert attention. VanSumeren says that is where he has made the most improvement and that has led to being better instinctually on defense. There are a couple of plays that VanSumeren can point to from this preseason that indicated the progress he's made.

Both were screen passes run by the offense – one in Baltimore and one on Saturday against Minnesota. VanSumeren sniffed out the play in Baltimore, made his way through blocking traffic, and registered the tackle after a 4-yard gain. Against the Vikings, VanSumeren was in the right position on the play early in the game and was tackled from behind and wasn't able to finish.

The point is, he made the right progression with his eyes, diagnosed what was coming, and then got himself in the right position to make the tackle. His speed, sideline-to-sideline skills, and physicality have never been in question.

Improving his recognition and ability to translate that into playmaking has gained tremendously and that's why he is here.

"I've definitely taken some big strides in that way, along with some coaching points I've gotten from coaches in the building and players I've played with, and it's really helped me come a long way," he said. "I think I play to my full speed now. I think my speed really shows up on tape. It really started later last season. I was a different player later in the season than I was in Training Camp and I'm even a different player now.

"I take these steps every day to prepare myself to make me the best player I can be."

He's on the rise, no doubt about it. The Eagles had a ball of talented clay in VanSumeren last season and now they have a linebacker and a special teams ace and they plan on VanSumeren no longer being a long shot. He's here and he's staying and he plans on helping the Eagles win in the season ahead.