Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor wasted zero time shutting down the noise around his future, delivering a powerful message right after the Bulldogs’ 31-24 win over Missouri. A famous voice in college football had just thrown Taylor’s name into the spotlight, but the sophomore’s reply left absolutely no room for doubt about where his loyalty stands.
Nick Saban Called, Kamario Taylor Hung Up
The whole situation kicked off on ESPN’s College GameDay before Saturday’s kickoff. Former Alabama coach Nick Saban, doing analyst duty for the show, made his pick for Mississippi State to win. Then, he went for the gut punch, pointing directly at the transfer market. Saban told viewers, “If I was coaching right now, I’d be trying to get KaMario Taylor to get in the portal.” Can you believe that? That’s putting a target on a guy’s back and trying to stir things up! But Taylor? He didn’t flinch. He backed up that praise on the field in Starkville, dropping a huge performance. He completed 27 of 38 passes for an impressive 360 yards and three crucial touchdowns. That 24-yard dime he threw to Sanfrisco Magee with just 3:57 left? It broke a tie, plain and simple, sealing the win for the Bulldogs. Running back Fluff Bothwell wasn’t just watching either, adding 122 rushing yards and a score as the Bulldogs piled up 499 total yards. This victory was massive, giving Mississippi State their first win over a ranked opponent as a ranked team themselves since 2014. That’s a long time coming.
Heisman Talk and Bulldog Loyalty Runs Deep
When reporters asked Taylor about Saban’s provocative words right after the game, his answer was measured, direct, and unforgettable. “If you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white,” Taylor said. BOOM. Six words that tell you everything you need to know about this kid’s character and commitment. He also mentioned that he tries his best not to dwell on any outside talk during the season. This kind of focused, loyal attitude totally tracks with his whole story, and frankly, it explains why everyone in college football is talking about him right now. His rise has been incredibly quick. Through just four games this season, this sophomore from Macon, Mississippi, has already thrown for an astounding 1,192 yards and 14 touchdowns, with only two interceptions to his name. That’s a ridiculous 69.2 percent completion rate for a team that is currently sitting pretty at a perfect 4-0 record overall and a strong 2-0 in the SEC. Those are bonafide Heisman conversation numbers, folks, no question about it. Bulldogs fans are rightfully hyped, and so are others, like Kansas City Chiefs star and Mississippi State alum Chris Jones, who recently stepped up and pledged to donate to the school’s NIL efforts specifically to help keep Taylor right there in Starkville, where he belongs. This loyalty thing is nothing new for Taylor. Georgia made a late push to flip him during recruiting, and he stayed true to the Bulldogs then, too. He even passed on the chance to transfer after.
What’s next for Kamario Taylor and the Mississippi State Bulldogs as they navigate this early season success? With an unbeaten record and their superstar quarterback firmly committed to the maroon and white, every single game from here on out is about continuing this incredible run and seeing just how high this team, led by their Heisman-contending QB, can climb.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply