USF lands a second quarterback as LSU's Michael Van Buren transfers to the Bulls

USF added two experienced SEC quarterbacks to its roster within hours of each other as head coach Brian Hartline works to rebuild a position decimated by the departures of the Bulls' top three signal-callers.

Michael Van Buren, a former 4-star recruit with stops at Mississippi State and LSU, committed to USF on Wednesday afternoon. That came just hours after former FSU and Mississippi State quarterback Luke Kromenhoek did the same.

The commitments gives Hartline and offensive coordinator Tim Beck two experienced quarterbacks from arguably the toughest conference in the country.

Van Buren started at Mississippi State in 2024, where he completed 54 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, He transferred in 2025 to LSU, where he mostly backed up starter Garrett Nussmeier. Van Buren appeared in seven games for the Tigers and threw for eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

He started the final five games after Nussmeier suffered an aggravated abdominal strain and patellar tendinitis in his knee, In a 38-35 loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl, Van Buren threw for 267 yards, three touchdowns, and had no interceptions.

He will compete with Kromenhoek for the starting position, along with whoever else Hartline brings in. Kromenhoek and Van Buren are the only experienced quarterbacks on the roster. Freshman Sam Fenton is the only remaining QB from the 2025 season and he didn't see any action.

Kromenhoek, a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, will have three years of eiigibility remaining. He began his college career at Florida State in 2024, where he threw for 502 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman. He also rushed for 113 yards.

He played in only three games in 2025 after transferring to Mississippi State.