Auburn’s search for a transfer portal quarterback just got a lot thinner.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, who looked like a natural fit for Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon’s veer-and-shoot offense in 2027, is staying put in Starkville. Taylor has re-signed with the Bulldogs, taking him off the board before Auburn could even make a run at him in the portal this coming January.
Taylor is still working back from a severe toe injury that ended his season in October, but Mississippi State clearly sees him as a centerpiece. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Taylor’s deal begins at $7.5 million and can rise above $9 million. His return is being viewed as a major part of the Bulldogs’ offensive plans next season, and Mississippi State is preparing to pour more money into football around him.
“The timing of the signing will allow coach Jeff Lebby to build a recruiting/portal class around Taylor, as the school pitched Taylor on an uptick in overall investment,” Thamel said.
“This deal is expected to be completed later today, per sources. It’s significant for Jeff Lebby for portal/recruiting and roster building.”
“One of the thing we realized is the level of quality players who are intrigued by joining Kamario at Mississippi State,” a source told ESPN.
Taylor wasn’t the only name Auburn had its eye on. Missouri’s Austin Simmons also re-signed with his school, which means the best portal quarterbacks available now may come from messier situations.
That leaves Auburn and other programs looking at a market that may be headed toward Ohio State and Michigan.
Julian Sayin’s season-ending shoulder injury wrecked the Buckeyes’ year, though the situation may also have been shaped by Ryan Day choosing true freshman Luke Fahey over former five-star Ohio native Tavien St. Clair.
St. Clair could be the most likely Ohio State quarterback to hit the portal, and his lack of playing time behind Fahey may have lowered his price.
Michigan presents another possible swing. Bryce Underwood was once an eight-figure investment for LSU and Michigan, but his stock has dropped after a rough 2025 under Chip Lindsey and an even tougher 2026 under Jason Beck.
He still has talent, but it hasn’t shown up at the Big Ten level. He could be the next Jackson Arnold, or he could wind up as a strong fit in a veer-and-shoot system.
For Golesh, it would be worth making the call if he believes Underwood’s processing has room to grow.
For Auburn, the bigger picture is clear: the portal market is getting tighter for quarterbacks who are already playing well. This January, Golesh and company may have to hunt for a hidden gem instead.
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