STARKVILLE — In terms of build and raw skills, Michael Van Buren and Chris Parson are not all that different from Blake Shapen.
All three Mississippi State quarterbacks stand 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weigh between 200 and 215 pounds. All three have strong arms and the ability to connect with receivers deep down the field, and all three also have the speed to escape the pocket and make plays with their legs. But while Shapen has made 27 starts at the college level, Parson and Van Buren have combined for one.
“I really feel like they’re all similar,” wide receiver Jordan Mosley said. “Chris and Mike are a little bit more mobile. They can get out on the edge and run a little bit. But as far as playmaking, they all can throw the ball. The biggest difference is (not) having that fifth-year, that leader who’s seen a lot of ball and had a lot of experience.”
The good news for the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) is that they won’t have to change their offense too much ahead of Saturday’s game at No. 1 Texas, in which the true freshman Van Buren will make his first start following Shapen’s season-ending shoulder injury. Van Buren led MSU on a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter last Saturday after relieving Shapen, which impressed the coaching staff enough to give him the nod over Parson.
“Getting to live that experience is huge for him,” head coach Jeff Lebby said after the loss to Florida, before the news broke that Shapen’s injury was season-ending. “Having the ability now to go get coached on it, he’ll be able to see those things and get some things cleaned up. Proud of him, being able to lead us down on that first drive of his and go get a touchdown was great for Mike.”
The Bulldogs’ offensive line played its best game of the season against the Gators, allowing MSU to rush for a season-high 240 yards. Without veteran Keyvone Lee for an extended period of time, though, it will be up to Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels to help make life easier for Van Buren in a hostile environment against a national championship contender.
Lebby made a few changes to the starting offensive line against Arizona State — the Bulldogs moved Albert Reese IV from right tackle to left tackle, Makylan Pounders from left tackle to left guard and inserted Leon Bell at right tackle in place of Jacoby Jackson. But MSU reverted to its original starting five the next week with Pounders, Jackson, Ethan Miner, Marlon Martinez and Reese from left to right.
“(It’s about) the same thing we’ve been doing all these months during the spring, making sure we’re all on the same page and executing well,” Reese said. “(Van Buren) is very confident and he’s not jittery. He’s very excited for the opportunity.”
Van Buren played some of the top high school teams across the country at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, then was named MVP of the Under Armour All-America Game in January, completing 10 of 15 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a pass for a two-point conversion.
“We call him Mikey. He’s a cool, laid-back guy,” Mosley said. “He’s used to playing highly competitive teams. A lot of the guys he’s going against (at Texas), he’s probably played a couple of them in high school. I don’t think the moment is going to be too big for him. He’s a guy who has a lot of confidence in his abilities, and he works extremely hard.”
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