Given USF head coach Brian Hartline's reputation for explosive offenses, no position on the Bulls will be more scrutinized than quarterback.
Obviously that's true with nearly every major college football program, but given that Hartline was basically handed an empty quarterback room at the start of his tenure, it puts a little more urgency into the conversation.
As it stands now, the Bulls have three quarterbacks committed through the Transfer Portal for the upcoming season: Luke Kromenhoek (Florida State/Mississippi State), Michael Van Buren Jr. (Mississippi State/LSU), and KJ Cooper (Texas Southern).
One caveat: We could still be in for a surprise or two. Although the time for entering the portal has passed, players who were in it already but hadn't picked a destination can still transfer. Also, National Signing Day is coming in early February, and the Bulls could land a touted prospect or two that might change the dynamic.
Also, there has been no word about what Sam Fenton plans to do. The native of London, UK, joined USF last year as a true freshman after serving as quarterback for the Great Britain Lions U19 squad and the NFL Academy.
He saw no playing time last year with the Bulls, and we haven't heard much about him -- well, nothing, actually -- since Alex Golesh left for Auburn and the regime took over.
Given all that, let's break down the supposed strengths and potential weaknesses of the current quarterback room.
Luke Kromenhoek
Strengths: At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he has good size for the position. His arm and the velocity on his throws are considered elite. He is athletic and mobile, with a quick burst of speed if he has to run. He can be a home-run hitter with his ability to throw deep, which is probably what attracted Hartline in the first place.
Despite limited playing time at his two previous stops, Kromenhoek is said to have a high football IQ and processes information and situations quickly. Also, as a first-year starter he led his high school team to a state championship. That moment, at least, wasn't too big for him.
He also had FSU’s longest rush and pass in 2024 – a 42–yard run on fourth down at Miami and a 71–yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas vs. Charleston Southern.
Weaknesses: His lack of playing time at Mississippi State could be a red flag. He sat behind the primary starter, Kamario Taylor, and saw minimal action. And when he did play at Florida State the previous year, the Seminoles were in a death spiral to a 2-10 finish. Kromenhoek appeared in six games and started the last two, the second of which was against Florida.
It was a disaster. He was sacked eight times in a 31-11 loss.
Michael Van Buren Jr.
Strengths: Another strong-armed quarterback who can move well in the pocket. He is more of a pocket passer than Kromenhoek and has more college game experience.
Before transferring to LSU, Van Buren threw for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns with only seven interceptions at Mississippi State. Van Buren also ran for five scores.
In the Texas Bowl -- his last game at LSU before entering the portal -- he threw for three touchdowns and 267 yards with no interceptions. Pro Football Focus gave him a 90.1 offensive grade for the game, including an 85.0 passing grade. The Tigers lost that game to Houston 38-35.
Weaknesses: Critics point out that he was inconsistent with his accuracy and had a tendency to make poor decisions at times, resulting in turnovers.
In fairness, LSU was in a state of flux in 2025 after the mid-season firing of head coach Brian Kelly and played the rest of the season in the shadow of the Lane Kiffin controversy. Van Buren was also victimized by receiver drops, a weak offensive line, and a new play-caller.
KJ Cooper
Strengths: He has elite, explosive speed and had solid numbers last year at Texas Southern: 1,626 passing yards, 292 rushing yards, and 17 total touchdowns. At 6-foot-5 he has the size you like at that position, and apparently USF wasn't the only program interested in him once he entered the portal.
FSU Wire reported that shortly before Cooper committed to USF, Florida State reached out to him through quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker. And there is this intangible: With Cooper under center in 2025, Texas Southern posted its first winning season in 25 years.
Weaknesses: While Texas Southern is an FCS school and plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, playing in the American Conference will be quite a step up in competition. He'll have a chance to compete in spring practice, but he will be going against two quarterbacks with SEC experience.
He could face an uphill climb for playing time.