The Texas Longhorns prepare for their SEC opener against Mississippi State’s inexperienced quarterback. As the No. 1 Texas Longhorns prepare for their first SEC game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, they will face a squad dealing with issues, including the loss of starting quarterback Blake Shapen to a season-ending injury suffered during their recent loss to Florida.
With Mississippi State at 1-3 and their single victory coming against Eastern Kentucky, the Longhorns are strong favorites. Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby said on Monday that freshman Michael Van Buren will take over as starting quarterback, with fellow freshman Chris Parson also competing for playing time. “Mike will take the first photos,” Lebby said. “He showed amazing poise in his last drive and believes in himself and his teammates.
Van Buren showed promise against Florida, completing 7 of 13 passes for 100 yards and organizing a scoring drive. However, the task of competing in the high-energy atmosphere at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium looms huge.
Lebby highlighted the challenges that a true freshman has, adding that, while Van Buren has a skill set similar to Shapen’s—the ability to extend plays and make vital throws—experience will be critical against a top-tier defense. “We need to focus on ball security and creating favorable situations,” the coach said. The contest promises to be interesting as the Longhorns, known for their great defense, prepare to face the Bulldogs at 3:15 PM on SEC Network.
