Eli Lederman, ESPN journalist
Mississippi State transfer quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. he obliged LSU– he announced on Sunday.
Van Buren entered the transfer portal earlier this week after making eight starts in his first season with the Bulldogs this fall. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound passer threw for 1,886 yards and a total of 16 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a completion rate of 54.7%.
A four-star prospect from Bowie, Maryland, Van Buren was ESPN’s No. 57 overall recruit and No. 4 pocket prospect in the 2024 class. He initially committed OregonVan Buren opted out of his contract with the Ducks and committed to Mississippi State last December, shortly after coach Jeff Lebby took over the program, and later signed as the highest-ranked member of the Bulldogs’ 2024 recruiting class.
Van Buren took over for the veteran quarterback this fall Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 home loss to Florida on September 21. Shaping, form Baylor the transfer with 27 career starts announced earlier this week his plans to return to the Bulldogs as a sixth-year player in 2025.
Mississippi State had wins in just one of the eight games Van Buren started in Shapen’s place, ending Lebby’s first season with the Bulldogs with a record of 2-10. Van Buren topped 300 yards twice, including 306 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-31 loss to Georgia October 12.
Van Buren lands at LSU with three years of eligibility remaining. The Tigers are expected to return their starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeierwith an ex Vanderbilt move AJ Swann remaining the only other quarterback on the program’s roster. LSU has not signed a quarterback for the 2025 season despite being the No. 1 overall pick Bryce Underwood he changed his commitment from the Tigers to Michigan last month.
