Mississippi State’s Quarterback Named SEC Freshman of the Week

Michael Van Buren Jr., Mississippi State’s new quarterback has earned SEC freshman of the week.

A notable award to any, a couple of Michael Van Buren Jr.’s circumstances make this achievement more impressive. He is a true freshman, this is only his second starting game, and he won it while playing against No. 5 Georgia.

Michael is a true freshman from Maryland and was Mississippi State’s backup quarterback. Following State’s previous quarterback Blake Shapen’s injury, Van Buren Jr. was called to the stage. It is truly impressive for a freshman quarterback to excel in the SEC. The SEC is one of the most competitive conferences in college football, but Van Bureen Jr. does not let this pressure get to him. The intense pressure and fast-paced game environment make every game a challenge. When a freshman like Michael can navigate these challenges successfully, especially against a No. 5 opponent, he has earned the SEC freshman of the week title.

To breakout his performance, Mississippi statistics note that, “he set new season-bests in passing yards (306), passing touchdowns (3) and passing attempts and completions (20-for-37). He became the second Mississippi State quarterback in program history to throw for over 300 yards against Georgia. By throwing for over 300 yards in just his second career start, he became one of the fastest State quarterbacks to reach that milestone since at least 2010.”

Unfortunately, one of Mississippi’s biggest schools, Mississippi State University, has not been excelling in football this year. There are some contributing factors, like having a new coaching staff. However, having Michael Van Buren Jr. perform so well is a huge beacon of hope for many State fans. The Bulldogs now have a player they can rally behind.

Read more about Michael Van Buren Jr. and Mississippi State football below:

https://hailstate.com/news/2024/10/14/football-van-buren-jr-named-sec-freshman-of-the-week

Author administrator Corinne Ellington