Michael Van Buren earns SEC Freshman of the Week after breakthrough performance at UGA
Fresh off of a strong performance at No. 5 Georgia, Michael Van Buren is the SEC Freshman of the Week.
Van Buren put together one of the best offensive performances from an opponent inside Sanford Stadium in the last 48 games as State lost 41-31. Van Buren was 20-of-37 for 306 yards and three touchdowns and rushed five times for 15 yards. It snapped a 48-game streak where UGA had held teams below 30 points.
“I’m proud of how he answered the bell and answered the challenges inside the game. I think if you talk to him (Monday), he’s aware of how much better we need to play at the quarterback position. He did some great things, he played with toughness, he found ways to get himself out of bad positions after having a really slow start.
The 6’1 freshman from Maryland has stepped in and given the Bulldogs a shot in the arm the last two games. After the loss of senior QB Blake Shapen for the season against Florida, Van Buren has completed 53% of his passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Those performances came against No. 1 Texas and No. 5 UGA on the road as Van Buren has been thrown into the fire. After a rough start on Saturday against the other Bulldogs, Van Buren recovered to throw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns in the second half while going 15-of-22 passing.
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Van Buren hit a 72-yard pass to Mario Craver late in the first half and then threw a touchdown to Kelly Akharaiyi. That got the QB started in what would be an impressive finish.
“That big completion got him going and gave him some confidence. It’s just him being around his teammates and having energy and focusing on what’s next,” Lebby said. “For an 18-year-old going into that environment, struggling the way that he did early but being able to come out of it and play the way he did, that’s exactly what you want to see as a coach. Proud of him for that.”
Van Buren has a chance to come home this weekend and play at home as a starter for the first time as the Bulldogs host No. 14 Texas A&M at Davis Wade Stadium. Game time is at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
