Penn State makes top-eight for four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren
Penn State has made the first cut for a top Class of 2024 quarterback target. Baltimore, Md., St. Frances Academy four-star Michael Van Buren released a top eight on Thursday that includes the Lions, Miami, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and Maryland.
A 5-foot-11.5, 185-pound junior, Van Buren claimed nearly 30 offers. He has made more than 10 unofficial visits so far in his recruitment. Penn State has hosted him three times, including most recently on Oct. 29 for an unofficial to see the Lions matchup with Ohio State. Before that, he was in State College for a spring practice back in March.
“Seeing their practice was fun,” Van Buren told BWI after that trip. “Seeing the energy they bring, watching them get after it. Everyone there was trying to get better.
“Coach Franklin is such a character. He brings so much energy to practice. It felt like everyone fed off of that. Coach Yurcich coaches his quarterbacks hard. He has so much energy, too. He’s not as outgoing and the kind of personality that Coach Franklin is, but I like it.”
Read more: Go inside Van Buren’s top-eight with On3’s Chad Simmons
Penn State currently leads in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. But, no expert predictions have been logged. Van Buren has not yet set any visits for 2023, be it unofficial trips in January or official visits in the spring and summer. Those will be good clues, however, as to where he will ultimately end up.
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Van Buren is the No. 67 player overall in the On3 Consensus player rankings for the Class of 2024 and the No. 7 quarterback. On3’s own rankings have him at Nos. 202 and 14, respectively.
Mapping out the Penn State Class of 2024 quarterback board
As things currently stand, Penn State is projected to have three scholarship quarterbacks on its roster when the Class of 2024 arrives. Drew Allar and Beau Pribula will be in year three of their eligibility, while Jaxon Smolik will be in year two.
Van Buren is not the Lions’ only option in the next cycle. Four other names to know are:
Savannah, Ga., four-star Luke Kromenhoek, who visited for the White Out game.
IMG Academy four-star Jayden Bradford, who was last in town for the Lasch Bash in July.
Philadelphia St. Joes three-star Samaj Jones, who took an unofficial for the Ohio contest.
Montgomery, Ala., three-star KJ Jackson, who also visited for the Lasch Bash.
Other players could be added to the list in the months ahead. But, for now, it is assured that Penn State sits in a good spot with Van Buren and will continue pushing to add the top-100 standout in the Class of 2024.
