Oregon QB Commit Michael Van Buren Hard at Work Recruiting for the Ducks
Oregon's 2024 recruiting class features two quarterbacks and one of them is Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy Under Armour All-American Michael Van Buren.
Ducks Digest caught up with the standout passer to talk Oregon and his recruiting process.
Van Buren went public with his commitment to Oregon last month, but said he made his decision before then during an unofficial visit in mid April.
"I committed on the visit before my last visit,' he said. "We went out to dinner. Me and my Mom talked about it in the hotel room and I felt like it was home, so I decided to make that decision and let Coach (Dan) Lanning know."
He offered more on why he chose Oregon from his final three that also included Penn State and Maryland.
"Just the relationship I have with the coaching staff. The family culture that Coach Lanning has really instilled into the program. I just feel like it was the best situation for me and my family and I feel like Oregon can help me on and off the field to be successful, even if I'm playing football or not."
The Ducks won out for a verbal commitment last month, but that wasn't always the case.
"I feel like about last December, November Penn State was definitely the leaders. I was definitely leaning towards Penn State," Van Buren said. "I actually almost committed last December."
So what changed?
"Just coming down on the visits in 2023 to Oregon, just taking those two visits and getting to know Coach (Will) Stein, getting to know Coach Lanning more and everybody else in the building. It's just like why not Oregon? I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
The Baltimore native is one half of Oregon's quarterback haul in 2024 alongside Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope quarterback Luke Moga. For Van Buren, being a part of two-quarterback class was no big deal.
"I talked to Luke and we're good friends," he said. "We talk about how we're going to make each other better and we're saying once we get down there we're both going to work and may the best man win. I'm a competitor, so going into a system with two quarterbacks didn't really affect me at all in my decision."
Van Buren has made a name for himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country playing for national powerhouse St. Frances Academy and reflected on the leadership he's bringing to Eugene.
"I like to lead from the front," he said. "I like to lead by example, encourage my teammates and make them better and just be the guy that makes everyone around them better."
Now that he's committed to Will Stein and the Ducks he's recruiting a number of high-profile targets to join him at Oregon.
"I'm working on Brandon Baker, Jeremiah McClellan, other guys like that, Nate Frazier. All the top guys we're recruiting right now, I followed them, hit their lines trying to build a relationship and get them to come turn up with me in Autzen."
Van Buren plans to enroll early at Oregon and join the team in January 2024. Until then, he's focused on finishing his high school career with a bang.
He wrapped up the interview with an encouraging message.
"I'm coming to work. I'm coming to compete and I'm ready to bring a national championship back to Eugene."
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