Jeff Lebby shares importance of Michael Van Buren to 2024 recruiting class

On Wednesday, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby reeled in a massive catch. After committing to the Bulldogs earlier this month, four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren signed with the program. Lebby couldn’t be happier to add Van Buren to his budding team.

“Had a lot of familiarity with Mike, had been on him for a long time at the prior place,” Lebby said during an appearance on the SEC Network. “I think he’s a great leader, he knows what it looks like. He’s a guy that’s bought into being a great quarterback and understanding what that means, what that takes, and that’s what you’ve got to have here.

“Obviously, playing in this league you’ve got to have a guy that knows how to run the show. He’s done that, he’s been through a lot in his high school career, but could not be more excited about adding him to the family and him being here in just a couple weeks.”

Mississippi State wasn’t on Van Buren’s radar until the program hired Lebby to be its next head coach in late November. Lebby was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma for two years, guiding the Sooners to boast the No. 3 scoring offense during the 2023 regular season.

In comparison, Mississippi State averaged the least points in the SEC. With Lebby running the show, Van Buren believes he can help turn the offense around.

“Who wouldn’t want to be in a top-rated offense, and he’s proven that his offense is going to be successful every single year,” Van Buren told On3. “What excites me the most is his passion for developing quarterbacks for the game. He loves his players, and he’s real big on relationships and family, which drew me to him a lot. I’m excited to learn from him.”

Michael Van Buren leaks confidence

Van Buren is a stunning talent. The 6-foot QB played high school football at St. Frances Academy (MD), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 22 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He isn’t alone. Mississippi State has the No. 28 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle. The group includes two other four-star recruits and 18 three-star prospects. Lebby didn’t waste time after Mississippi State hired him.

Van Buren has high expectations for his new home.

“It was like a whole new Mississippi State to bring in all the big recruits and get this thing rolling,” Van Buren said. “With the playoffs expansion, we want to be one of those teams. With everybody bought in at the university right now, I feel like we can definitely get there.”