Nick Saban has spent a career collecting great quarterbacks, but this fall he’s found himself fixated on one he never coached, never recruited and can’t seem to stop praising.
That player is Mississippi State sophomore Kamario Taylor, and Saban’s enthusiasm has gone from flattering to downright eye-catching. On College GameDay, he has called Taylor “the truth and the light” and, on another occasion, “my guy.” Then on Saturday, he took it a step further with a comment that landed with a thud in the middle of the sport’s portal-era reality.
“If I was coaching right now,” Saban said, “I’d be trying to get Kamario Taylor to get in the portal.”
Maybe he meant it as a joke. Maybe not.
Either way, it was the kind of remark that turns heads, especially coming from college football’s most prominent voice in favor of the Protect College Sports Act. It also underscored just how highly Saban thinks of Taylor.
Taylor gave everybody another reason to listen after carving up Missouri for 360 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 31-24 ranked-on-ranked win, Mississippi State’s first such victory since 2014. Asked about Saban’s praise, Taylor stayed calm.
“It’s really kind of hard because I’m in season and I don’t want to reply,” Taylor said. “I don’t look at things like that in the season.
When people comment, it’s hard for me to talk to them the way I want to talk to them. But if you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white.”
That line is going to sit just fine with Mississippi State fans, especially since Taylor grew up about 35 miles from Starkville and was already one of theirs in spirit. Expect that quote to get plenty of play Saturday when Alabama comes to town.
And what a stage it is. Davis Wade Stadium will host a rare unbeaten matchup between Mississippi State and Alabama in an 11 a.m. kickoff, with Taylor and Alabama true sophomore Keelon Russell front and center.
Russell made his loudest statement yet in his fourth college start, throwing for 365 yards in the blowout of South Carolina. That total leads all SEC quarterbacks in a single game this season, and his 75-yard touchdown pass to Lotzeir Brooks is the longest in the league so far.
Russell is also the first Alabama starting quarterback who was not signed by Saban since Greg McElroy, a Mike Shula recruit. Saban has praised Russell, too, just not with the same level of wonder he’s reserved for Taylor.
That dynamic should make for a fascinating GameDay segment Saturday morning from Iowa. Saban will almost certainly have a winner in mind, but if history is any guide, he won’t want to turn this into a quarterback showdown. He’s never loved comparisons.
Still, the question lingers: has any player ever gotten Nick Saban this animated?
Maybe both sophomores have. Maybe that’s the point.
In Other News...
Alabama Game Day Is Becoming A Celebrity Stage For Tide Culture
Alabamas game-day scene has become more than just a football backdrop, with recent home dates drawing a mix of former Crimson Tide stars and outside names who have ties to the programs culture. Mark Ingram and Brandon Miller were among the familiar faces in attendance, adding to the feeling that Alabama Saturdays have turned into a reunion as much as a sporting event.
Scott Stapps presence fit that atmosphere, too, given his longtime support of Alabama and his family connection to the program. Kid Rock also made an appearance, and the larger point is hard to miss: Alabama football has become a stage where athletics, alumni pride and celebrity interest overlap, with the music side of that spotlight set to keep building as Creeds performances approach. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into Mississippi State With New Depth Concerns
Alabamas injury picture is starting to crowd the conversation heading into its trip to Mississippi State, with two more players added to a list the Crimson Tide has had to manage carefully. Will Sanders and Jayvin James both came out of the South Carolina game hurt, and while Sanders is expected to be available, James is now sitting in the questionable bucket as the Tide tries to sort out who will be ready to go.
The bigger concern may be the ripple effect on the middle of the defense. Linebackers Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu are already out, which leaves Alabama thinner than it would like at a spot that can be tested quickly in conference play. With depth being pushed and availability still in question for at least one more player, the Tide will have some decisions to make before it lines up against the Bulldogs. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into Mississippi State With One Lingering Injury Concern
Alabama is getting closer to its trip to Mississippi State with a clearer picture of the injury situation along both lines, though not every answer is in yet. Kalen DeBoer said offensive lineman Jayvin James is questionable, while William Sanders is expected to be ready, which at least gives the Tide some needed depth as they head into another SEC road test.
The bigger concern may still be on the defensive side, where outside linebacker Justin Hill and defensive end Desmond Umeozulu are both out, and Umeozulu is expected to need more time. Safety Zavier Mincey also sat out the previous game after getting hurt in pregame warmups, leaving Alabama with a few moving pieces to monitor as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]