Mississippi State's Jeff Lebby calls recent experience "monumental" for Michael Van Buren

Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren shined on Saturday in Athens. In just his second ever start, the true freshman passer had a huge day against the 5th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, giving his otherwise outmatched team a chance in a 41-31 loss. And he managed to overcome a slow start in a hostile environment to do so.

Through State's first four drives of the game, Van Buren was just 1-5 passing for three yards. Primarily looking to get the ball out quickly for short completions, he struggled with accuracy, and the Bulldog offense failed to move the ball. Jeff Lebby thinks the atmosphere got to Van Buren early.

"Early on, I think it was just a young kid in an unbelievable environment where we had the opportunity to do some things, and we did not hit on them. I have to continue to coach better and put him in better positions for success."

- Miss State HC Jeff Lebby

But on State's fifth possession, a switch seemed to flip. Van Buren connected on a 72-yard deep shot to Mario Craver down to the Georgia 5-yard line, and after a penalty backed the offense up, he threw a 24-yard score to Kelly Akharaiyi to get State within a field goal of UGA.

That became a turning point for Van Buren and the offense, and in the second half, they fully got into groove. Being more aggressive throwing down field, he flourished. Lebby says he liked the resiliency he saw out of his young signal-caller.

"He did settle in there late in the first and played really well in the second half...I am proud of him for getting himself out of that hole and answering the right way."

- Jeff Lebby

Van Buren would finish the game with 306 yards and three touchdowns against an incredibly talented Georgia defense. It was a fantastic performance, as he joined Will Rogers as the only Bulldog QBs to throw for at least 300 yards against UGA.

Michael Van Buren has been thrown into the fire. His first two starts were on the road against #1 Texas and #5 Georgia, doing so, again, as a true freshman. And while he did show his youth at times in both of those spots, he also showed the talent he possesses and an incredibly high ceiling. Jeff Lebby says that experience is monumental for Van Buren's growth, as he's unlikely to go through a tougher two-game stretch again.

"Michael's last two weeks have been monumental for his growth. What he has had to go through the last two weeks again, for him as a football player, I cannot imagine it being any tougher ever in his career."

- Jeff Lebby

Now, Van Buren will finally get the chance to play in front of his own fans. MSU's next three games are in Starkville, which Lebby believes will be big for Van Buren as a young QB.

"That will be big...I'm excited to see what he can do for us, and I know we are excited to get back to Davis Wade."

- Jeff Lebby

Michael Van Buren's next defensive test won't be easy. Mississippi State's next opponent, Texas A&M, fields its own high level defense. But now it's clear Van Buren will be more than up for the challenge.