Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. hit the transfer portal after one season in Starkville, detonating another batch of dominoes on the college QB carousel.
The true freshman started eight games for the Bulldogs in 2024, taking over as QB1 when starter Blake Shapen was injured, including a 300-yard effort with three TD passes in a 41-31 loss at Georgia.
“My family and I thank coach (Jeff) Lebby, staff, teammates, management team and professors for their contribution to my growth as an individual,” Van Buren wrote on social media. “This past year, we’ve worked together to create some memorable moments in Coach Lebby’s first year, and I’m sure something good will come out of this program.”
Shapen said Monday he plans to return to Mississippi State next season.
However, he may soon have serious competition for the starting job.
Mississippi State is reportedly in pursuit of quarterbacks on the transfer portal and is on the list of scheduled visits for Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold, according to reports.
The Bulldogs were 2-10 in Lebby’s first season and Van Buren passed for 1,886 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions with five rushing touchdowns.
Lebby was previously the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma and hired Arnold. He coached Arnold in 2023, the first of two quarterback seasons in Norman, when Dillon Gabriel — Oregon’s current starter — was ahead of Norman on the depth chart.
In May 2023, Van Buren committed to Dan Lanning and Oregon ahead of his other two finalists, Penn State and Maryland.
But when Lebby left Oklahoma to take over at Mississippi State, the dominoes fell like this: Van Buren resigned from the Ducks and signed with Mississippi State; Gabriel moved from Oklahoma to Oregon; and Arnold was promoted to the starting job with the Sooners.
Luke Moga, a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, has kept his commitment to Oregon and is staying with the Ducks entering the postseason.
–Field Level Media
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