4-star QB Michael Van Buren is ready to announce his commitment
Bowie (Md.) St. Frances Academy four-star quarterback Michael Van Buren is one of the top uncommitted quarterbacks in the 2024 class. That will change soon.
Van Buren is announcing his commitment on May 20 at 4:00pm Eastern Time.
“I am ready to make that commitment and get things locked in,” Van Buren told On3. “There is no reason to wait any longer.”
He will be choosing between Maryland, Oregon and Penn State.
The 5-foot-11.5, 185-pound signal-caller, who originally planned to commit in July, is still deciding which school will receive his pledge. He has visited each of his finalists this month.
“I have great relationships with each of those coaches and their coaching staff,” Van Buren said on April 21. “These schools I feel like are the best fit for me and where I can maximize my opportunity and succeed.”
Van Buren is the No. 181 overall prospect and No. 12 quarterback in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 5 player in Maryland.
Van Buren discusses his top three programs
Maryland: “Maryland’s the home team. There’s no better place to do it in your own city and that’s what Coach (Mike) Locksley likes to preach to me. With them getting the right guy, they can make a run and be a top team soon. I feel at home there because I don’t have to get on a plane to get there or drive far. It’s there in the backyard and that’s their main message. They preach to me to come and be their guy that changes the program.”
Oregon: “What stands out about Oregon for me is my relationship with the coaching staff and the great people they have in the building. Everyone there always has high energy, shows a lot of love and really care about each other in the building. With Coach (Dan) Lanning, a big thing with him is family and that’s why he chose to go to Oregon. I also built a relationship with Coach (Will) Stein when he got there and my mother finally got the chance to go up there and meet him in person. She really enjoyed that. Oregon also preaches that they’re one step from winning a national championship. They’ve been there and they feel like they can back and win it with me leading them there.”
Penn State: “The success that DMV guys have had going there. A lot of Maryland guys are there succeeding and I feel like I can go up there and do the same thing. I have a good relationship with the coaching staff. They make sure they communicate with me often and they tell me that I’ll go there, be developed as much as I can and get me ready to play at the next level. Their biggest pitch to me is how great of a place Happy Valley, how much people support the school and how they’re going to put me into a position to succeed on and off of the field.”