Four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren on Rutgers and breaks down the programs after him the hardest

Michael Van Buren has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in the class of 2024. And, not surprisingly, he has an offer list that features some of the biggest programs in college football.

A standout quarterback at St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD), Van Buren is being heavily recruited by a number of Power Five programs after a tremendous sophomore season. This week, he gave an update on his recruitment, talking about the programs that are currently after him the hardest while dropping the names of two powerhouses that could be closing in on offering this summer.

Clemson and Georgia have yet to offer.

Van Buren is a four-star recruit according to Rivals. He is ranked as the eleventh best quarterback in the nation and the No. 149 recruit in the class of 2024.

Van Buren breaks down his recruitment, his relationship with the likes of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Penn State head coach James Franklin, Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano as well as the slew of assistants, coordinators and offensive assistants involved in his recruitment. Check out what he had to say about his recruitment by Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, Maryland, Clemson, Georgia and Rutgers!

Michael Van Buren on Michigan football and where they factor into his recruitment

“I feel that Michigan’s gonna be you’re definitely gonna be high on my recruitment, even when it’s time to make a decision. Because they just showed a lot of love when I was down on my visit and showed me around the school. They showed me love while I was in at practice and I got to see how great practice was.”

Michael Van Buren on things are going with the Michigan football coaching staff

“I had a nice conversation with coach Harbaugh and coach [Matt] Weiss (offensive coordinator) when I was down there.”

“Things are going great. I talk to coach [Mike] Yurcich (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) and the assistants. I’ve talked to him pretty often. We have had some nice conversations coach Franklin when I down there. So things are going great; just a nice relationship with them.”

Michael Van Buren on being able to compete for a starting position at Penn State

“Yeah, that’s definitely the message. I can come in and compete for a job and I’m one of the guys they want. So they’re just telling me they really just see me leading the program one day, leading them to a national championship.”

Michael Van Buren on visiting Penn State this fall

“Honestly, I had always heard big things about their fan base and honestly I was just trying to see the fan base because I went down there for a game, but it wasn’t a huge game – it was a Villanova game. But I’m definitely looking to get down to the ‘whiteout’ game to see how their fanbase is.”

Michael Van Buren on where things stand with Alabama football

“Things are going great with Alabama. I recently had a call with coach Saban. We had a nice little conversation, he was telling me about the history of the program, you know, that he just loves my game and that he feels like I’ll be perfect playing in their program.”

Michael Van Buren on the success of quarterback Bryce Young in the Alabama offense

“I just look at it as I can see myself there, honestly. Because of how people compare my game to Bryce Young. Our size, accuracy, arm strength and all that. I take is an example. I can imagine me.”

Michael Van Buren on Alabama football's offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien

“That means a lot that he has done it at the highest level.”

Michael Van Buren on potentially playing at Maryland

“It’s home, it doesn’t get better than home. All my family can come to games. I wouldn’t have to leave far.”

Michael Van Buren

“I had a nice conversation with coach [Brandon] Streeter (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach). He was showing a lot of interest, giving me the background history of the program. He’s done a lot of good things, being a former quarterback. It is really appealing to me.”

Michael Van Buren on visiting Clemson this summer

“I’m looking to get down there in late summer, late June. I don’t have an exact date.

“I’m not sure yet, I might camp there. Most likely, yea, I’ll visit.”

Michael Van Buren on the interest from Georgia football

“Coach [Todd] Monken (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach) came to see me throw this past week, so year, I haven’t really had a conversation with him. They talk highly of me to my head coach. They’re showing me a lot of interest.”

Michael Van Buren on if he will visit Georgia and what the national championship this year means in his recruitment

“They said they’d like me down there this summer.

“It’s great, they won it on the biggest stage, they won a national championship – so it means a lot. And the history of Georgia, they’re always a dominant team. So it means a lot to me.”

Michael Van Buren on Rutgers football and his relationship

“I have many conversations with coach [Sean] Gleeson (offensive coordinator at Rutgers). I had a nice conversation with coach Schiano when I was there. They’ve only offered two guys in my class and I’m one of them. It goes to show how much interest they have in me and that they see me in their program one day.”

Michael Van Buren on the message from Rutgers football

“Rutgers is definitely one of the schools after me the hardest. They’re one of the top schools in terms of coming after me.

“They’re telling me I can come in and compete for a job. They have Gavin Wimsatt, a 2022. I don’t think they have a 2023 [quarterback] yet or offered one yet. They’re really focusing on my class, saying my class – someone from my class has to come in and be the guy. They want a guy to step in and lead the program.”

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