Two Former LSU Tigers Have Been Named Starting QBs At Their New Schools

Along with heading into the Lane Kiffin era, the LSU Tigers are about to begin a new season with a brand new quarterback.

LSU added former Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt out of the transfer portal this offseason. Despite dealing with a foot injury that ended his 2025 season, he was viewed by some as the top player available in the portal.

But as a new era begins with a fresh face under-center, two former LSU quarterbacks are beginning a new chapter of their own.

Michael Van Buren Jr.

Van Buren, who played just one season at LSU last year, has officially been named the starting quarterback at South Florida under new head coach Brian Hartline.

Van Buren took over at quarterback after Garrett Nussmeier was benched in the first game after Brian Kelly was fired. He started the final four games of the season, including in the Texas Bowl against the Houston Cougars in which he had his best performance of the year with 267 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Van Buren took over at quarterback once LSU's hopes of a College Football Playoff berth were already long gone. He was far from perfect but he still put together some solid performances given the tough circumstances after Kelly's firing.

In seven games (four starts) last season, Van Buren went 94 of 151 passing for 1,010 yards, eight touchdowns ans two interception along with 48 carries for 129 yards and another score.

Max Johnson

It's been a while since Max Johnson suited up for LSU during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Since then, he's made stops at Texas A&M and North Carolina, spending two years each with both programs.

Now, he's officially the starting quarterback at Georgia Southern ahead of what will be his seventh and final season of college football.

Johnson was one of three quarterbacks that saw siginificant action in 2020 as LSU looked to defend its National Championship. But as expected, none of them came anywhere close to the Heisman-winning production that Joe Burrow had with the Tigers a year prior.

Johnson took over as LSU's full-time starting quarterback during the 2021 season. Despite the Tigers finishing with a 6-7 record, Johnson had a solid year, going 225 of 373 passing for 2,815 yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions.

During his two years at LSU, Johnson appeared in 18 games (14 starts) while completing 313 of 523 passes for 3,883 yards, 35 touchdowns and seven picks.

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