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USF QB competition heats up between Luke Kromenhoek, Michael Van Buren, Jr.
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- USF QB competition heats up between Luke Kromenhoek, Michael Van Buren, Jr.
Luke Kromenhoek | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
For the last three seasons of USF football, fans knew going into the season who the starting quarterback was going to be. No one on the roster was going to beat out Byrum Brown.
It's different this year, of course.
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The two most likely candidates -- Michael Van Buren, Jr. and Luke Kromenhoek -- are in a healthy competition to see who takes the field first when the Bulls open play on September 5 against FIU.
Both were 4-star quarterbacks out of high school. Both come to USF after playing for power conference programs.
Van Buren has more game experience, with 17 games and 12 starts in the SEC at Mississippi State (8 starts) and LSU (4 starts) . Kromenhoek arrived after stops at Florida State and Mississippi State, where he totaled nine games and two starts (both at Florida State).
Kromenhoek is the bigger of the two, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 pounds.
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Van Buren is 6-0, 195. He is also considered by many observers to be a better runner when the need arises because the pocket broke down. Kromenhoek might be a bigger threat with the deep ball to any of several high-caliber Bulls receivers.
"They both have similar traits as people," head coach Brian Hartline said. "They both have a high give-a-crap factor about their prep, onfield command, and being a leader.
"They both weren't experts at it when they arrived but they've been working on it together. As far as studying the game and wanting to learn the game, they can't get enough."
After starting the final eight games at Mississippi State in 2024, Van Buren transferred to LSU. That situation quickly deteriorated when head coach Brian Kelly was removed at mid-season and Lane Kiffin rumors dogged the team the rest of the way.
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"Everybody knows the situation that happened there," he said. "I just felt like it was the right time to leave. We felt like USF was the best opportunity."
Kromenhoek also had a tough situation at Florida State. He was the only true freshman in Florida State history to pass for three touchdowns in his first career start. His 71-yard touchdown pass is the second-longest completion by a true freshman in program history.
But the Seminoles finished that season 2-10 amid mass player defections.
"It wasn't really the best place for me anymore. Um, and we felt like we needed to go elsewhere in order to reach the end goal for myself," he said. "Everyone wants to go play in the NFL."
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After limited playing time last season at Mississippi State, it was time to move again.
Former USF quarterback Locklan Hewlett might have been a factor in Kromenhoek's decision to come to Tampa.
He had trained with Hewlett's father, Will Hewlett, who is a respected name in quarterback coaches. He worked with notable QBs like Brock Purdy and Anthony Richardson.
"I didn't really know a whole bunch (about USF). I knew Locklan was here last year and I got to pick his brain a little bit about it," Kromenhoek said.
"He said the place is amazing. It's been unbelievable since I got here."
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Hartline has said all along that he has no timetable for naming a starter. He said he is waiting for one player to clearly separate from the other and make the choice obvious.
As of now, that hasn't happened.
Both players know it's a competition that only one cf them can win -- at least initially. Hartline said he expects to need both of them once the season starts.
The good news is, there's no tension between the two.
"They both have been in the big lights. have all been in big games. Fankly, I think it's pretty square when it comes to that situation.," Hartline said. "When one makes a play, the other one celebrates. So, like, there's not, like, this animosity or edge. They really are teammates first, which is great.
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"A lot of credit to them. and how they are wired and how they were raised. And we're just glad they're both here and frankly, they're pushing each other. They do a really good job. They've both taken a great step. If they both haven't, you may have had a guy by now. But the fact they're both taking incredible steps keeps making it a competition."
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This article was originally published on www.greengoldandbold.com as USF QB competition heats up between Luke Kromenhoek, Michael Van Buren, Jr. .
