LSU has added quarterback Michael Van Buren to its roster, a player who started eight games in the SEC during the 2024 season. Van Buren, a freshman, stepped into the starting role at Mississippi State after Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending injury. Over 10 games, he threw for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns. David Murray, who covers Mississippi State for 247 Sports, praised Van Buren’s ability, especially his deep ball, calling it a standout feature of his game.
“He has something that can’t be taught: a beautiful touch on the deep ball, always on time and on target,” Murray said. “His main drawback is his height—he’s listed at 6’1″, but he’s probably closer to 5’11”.”
Van Buren still has three years of eligibility remaining, and Murray notes that with Shapen set to return from injury in 2025, Van Buren likely would have been Mississippi State’s backup. LSU’s strong NIL offer played a key role in bringing him to Baton Rouge.
“He’s got the arm, the aggression, and the recognition to make all the throws,” Murray explained. “This is a solid pickup for LSU. Mississippi State just couldn’t invest heavily in NIL for a backup quarterback while needing to focus on finding players for positions like linebacker and the offensive and defensive lines.”
Despite his potential, Van Buren did struggle at times, throwing seven interceptions and getting sacked 27 times for a Mississippi State team that finished with a 2-10 record in 2024. Murray pointed out that Van Buren sometimes holds onto the ball too long, looking for deep passes, which led to his sacks.
“When you can throw the deep ball, you’re naturally going to hold onto it longer, hoping for that big play,” Murray said. “It’s something that can certainly be refined at the college level.”
