Nick Saban didn’t hold back when asked about Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor.
The former Alabama coach called the sophomore “the real deal” on the Pat McAfee show, and he didn’t stop there. Saban said, “He’s the truth, and the light… Just watching the guy play, a little bit last year and a lot this year, then talking to Jeff Lebby.
I mean, this guy is a very good passer, but athletic man, and can run, can makes plays on his own. So, I think this guy is going to be a big-time surprise for a lot of people in the SEC.”
That kind of praise carries weight, especially coming from Saban, who spent years evaluating and facing top-tier college quarterbacks. His comments have only added to the buzz already building around Taylor in Starkville.
Mississippi State is now in year 3 of the Jeff Lebby era, and Taylor has emerged as the quarterback many around the program believe can become a star. The Bulldogs landed one of their biggest recruiting wins under Lebby when they kept the Mississippi native home in the 2025 cycle, beating out several other major SEC programs.
Taylor, listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, is now drawing attention well beyond Mississippi. Saban’s assessment points to the mix that has people excited: a polished passer who can also create with his legs and make something happen when the play breaks down.
If Taylor keeps trending the way Saban believes he can, Mississippi State may have its next quarterback who changes the conversation around the program.
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Mississippi State May Have Found The QB Who Changes Everything
Kamario Taylor has already given Mississippi State a glimpse of why the program is so intrigued by his future. The sophomore quarterback flashed that athleticism in the season opener against ULM, and even with his passing still a work in progress, his blend of size, movement and raw potential has made him one of the most watched players in the building.
The real test now is whether Taylor can carry that momentum into tougher games on the schedule. More demanding defenses should force him to show how far he has come as a passer, but they will also give Mississippi State a clearer answer on what kind of ceiling he brings to the offense. If the early signs hold, the Bulldogs may have found a quarterback who can reshape the conversation around the position. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi States Rising Quarterback Faces His Biggest Edge Test Yet
Kamario Taylors debut as Mississippi States new-look spark was as efficient as it was eye-catching, with the true sophomore completing 65% of his passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns in the Bulldogs 62-13 win over Louisiana-Monroe while adding 59 rushing yards and another score. It was the kind of outing that reminded everyone why his ceiling has become such an important part of the conversation in Starkville, especially with the season still in its early stages and the expectations around him starting to rise.
Now comes a different kind of test, though, and one that should tell a lot more about where Taylor stands right now. Minnesotas Drake Lindsey has the kind of edge that comes with experience, entering his second year as the Golden Gophers starter after completing 79% of his passes for 264 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Illinois, and the matchup sets up a clear contrast between Taylors upside and Lindseys steadier rsum. For Mississippi State, that makes this more than just another nonconference game. It is a chance to see how far Taylor can carry that momentum when the margin for easy answers gets a lot thinner. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Faces A Telling Road Test For Kamario Taylor
Mississippi States trip to Minnesota in Week 2 brings a much different feel than a season-opening blowout, even if both teams arrive at Huntington Bank Stadium unbeaten. The Bulldogs and Golden Gophers each handled their openers comfortably, but this one has the look of a real measuring-stick game, with Kamario Taylor and Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey drawing attention as potential NFL prospects in a matchup that should be decided by who imposes its style first.
For Mississippi State, the key is how Taylor handles a road environment against a Minnesota team built to control the line of scrimmage, while the Bulldogs want to speed the game up with their up-tempo offense. It is the kind of early-season test that can reveal plenty about a young quarterback and about where Mississippi State stands when the margin for error tightens, even if the final answer is likely to wait until the very end. [Read more 🡒]