Oregon and second-year coach Dan Lanning landed one of the top quarterback recruits in the class of 2024 on Saturday by receiving a commitment from touted prospect Michael Van Buren.
Van Buren, a rising senior at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Md., chose to play for Oregon and Lanning over finalists Penn State and Maryland, according to ESPN. The 6’0’’, 190-pound QB’s announcement comes less than a week after he bumped his commitment date up from July 8 to May 20 following a visit to Oregon in April.
“What stood out to me most would probably be just how bought-in everybody is and how together everyone is,” Van Buren told ESPN regarding his decision. “The team is very close. Everybody treats everybody like family and the people in the building, they all have great energy and everybody there really wants people to succeed and they’re going to do everything they can to make sure that happens.”
I’m Home #ScoDucks @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/SbL2cQadKR
— Michael Van Buren (@mike3k_) May 20, 2023
Tabbed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports, Van Buren currently ranks 18th overall on ESPN’s Top 300 rankings for 2024, and is rated as the second-best pocket passer in the class behind only top ’24 prospect and Georgia commit Dylan Raiola.
An impressive junior season at St. Frances this past year helped Van Buren maintain a spot among the best QBs in his class. The promising dual-threat signal-caller completed 112 of his 198 passes for 1,707 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 10 carries for 125 rushing yards and two scores.
With Van Buren now in the fold, Oregon, which went 10–3 under Lanning in 2022, could have an heir apparent lined up to replace Bo Nix as he prepares to wrap up his collegiate career next season. Saturday’s news also gives Ducks fans something to be excited about in terms of the program’s future under center after top 2023 QB recruit Dante Moore pivoted his commitment from Oregon to UCLA in December.
Van Buren is the second ’24 QB to commit to Oregon in the last month, with three-star star Luke Moga announcing his decision on April 28.
Ready to bring a Natty back to Eugene!! 🦆🏆 https://t.co/rGPtaRkHGU
— Michael Van Buren (@mike3k_) May 20, 2023
