It has been a rocky first two years for Michael Van Buren, the latest addition to USF's quarterback room. The soon-to-be junior from St. Francis Academy has 12 career starts and was 2-2 this season with LSU.
He also started eight games his freshman season and was 1-7 in those starts.
He was thrown into the deep end early during his first two years of college, but now he has some experience. Van Buren joins new head coach Brian Hartline, who was the offensive coordinator for Ohio State, and won a national championship during the 2024-25 season.
Van Buren fits Hartline's scheme very well. He prefers to be a pure passer, but can make plays with his legs, similar to C.J Stroud and Will Howard.
Van Buren also brings experience against high-level competition. In his 12 starts, eight of them were against ranked teams. His first career start during his true freshman season was against the Texas Longhorns, ranked No. 1 at the time.
BREAKING: LSU transfer QB Michael Van Buren has Committed to USF, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 7, 2026
Van Buren has thrown for 2,896 yards and 19 TD in his college career thus far
He started his career at Mississippi Statehttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/k06nai5FIq
Given the competition he has faced, the game should slow down for him as he moves to the American Conference from the SEC.
Van Buren isn't the only USF transfer quarterback. The Bulls also signed former Mississippi State and Florida State quarterback Luke Kromenhoek. Like Van Buren, he has three years of eligibility remaining and Hartline's offense.
He also has Power 4 experience with two starts for Florida State during his freshman season. It is expected that both QBs will battle to win the starting job, which I expect Van Buren to win.
Given that USF has only three rostered quarterbacks -- freshman Sam Fenton, who saw no action in 2025 is the other -- it's likely Hartline will bring in at least two more quarterbacks either through the Transfer Portal or on National Signing Day on February 4.