Van Buren not expected to be short yardage option for LSU

By Hunt Palmer

With Garrett Nussmeier resting an ab strain this week, backup Michael Van Buren is getting a chance to run the first team.

The Mississippi State transfer started eight games for the Bulldogs last season as a true freshman when starter Blake Shapen was lost for the season in September.

He threw for 1,886 yards and 11 touchdowns a season ago under adverse circumstances in Starkville. Mississippi State was badly outmanned in year one under new coach Jeff Lebby.

After more than half a season as the starter, Van Buren signed up to sit behind a veteran quarterback at LSU. This week Nussmeier is doing the sitting.

“We’re going to give Garrett some time to rest here this week, make sure he’s fully at 100 percent,” said LSU head coach Brian Kelly. “And Michael got all the first team reps in articulation (Wednesday). He did a great job. He’s still learning, but as we’ve said, we feel confident in his ability.”

Van Buren had his struggles in camp, often misfiring and missing some reads in a new offense. However, he shined in his opportunity against Southeastern Louisiana two weeks ago, completing 10-of-12 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. He added a score on the ground, something he did five times as a freshman.

Kelly was asked Wednesday whether or not Van Buren’s athleticism could be used to help LSU’s scuffling running game along, particularly in short yardage.

It doesn’t sound like it.

“We have that package in,” Kelly said. “We have short yardage runs for quarterback, but I’m not going to take Garrett Nussmeier out of the game to run short yardage. So, we’ve predicated all that on the type of formations that we run in short yardage, and we gear it toward our quarterback. If (Nussmeier)’s not our quarterback, we have some different answers if it’s Michael.”

Nussmeier is expected to return near full strength following the open date. A home game with South Carolina looms.

It sounds like the Tiger tailbacks will be in charge up picking up short yardage first downs moving forward.