MSU OT Dan Vanopstall earns scholarship after spending three seasons as PWO

MSU offensive lineman Dan VanOpstall stands underneath the o-line chute during 2021 fall practice/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Nathan Stearns, Sports Broadcast Director
October 5, 2021

EAST LANSING— After three-plus years, redshirt junior offensive tackle Dan VanOpstall is finally on scholarship.

VanOpstall, a Jenison, Michigan, native made the announcement on Monday evening. He originally joined the team during the 2018 season under former head coach Mark Dantonio as a preferred walk-on despite having an offer for a full-ride at Division II Hillsdale College (where his older brother, Matt, played).

He was also offered by Army, Indiana State and Western Illinois out of high school.

During his time at Jenison High School, VanOpstall played on the offensive and defensive line and was a two-time OK Conference all-league selection, where he also wrestled.  The Associated Press also named him as a Division 1-2 honorable mention all-state selection as a senior.

In 2020, VanOpstall appeared in six games on special teams (34 overall plays) to receive his first varsity letter; he has also appeared in all five games as a special teams player in 2021.

VanOpstall, 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, also received some playing time in the second half of MSU’s 42-14 home win over Youngstown State on Sept. 11.