KaMario Taylor absolutely shredded the ULM Warhawks in the season opener, leading the Mississippi State Bulldogs to a crushing 62-13 victory. He tossed for 354 yards and four touchdowns, looking like a completely different guy and immediately making former coach Nick Saban’s bold predictions feel incredibly prescient.
Saban Called It: “The Real Deal”
Just recently, Saban himself went on the Pat McAfee Show and didn’t hold back on his thoughts about Taylor. He straight up called him “the real deal” and predicted the quarterback would blow past expectations in the SEC. Saban has a track record for spotting talent, right? And he was talking about Taylor like he’d found the next big thing.
Saban’s exact words were, “He’s the real deal now. He’s the truth and the light.” He went on to say that after watching Taylor play a bit last year and a lot this year, and talking to Jeff Lebby, he’s convinced: “this guy is a very good passer but athletic and can run and create plays on his own. I think this guy is gonna be a big-time surprise for a lot of people in the SEC.” After that Week 1 performance, you gotta wonder if Saban knows something everyone else is just now figuring out.
Sophomore Sensation Ready to Explode
Taylor is only in his second year, remember? He got a taste of action last year, making 11 appearances and two starts in 2025. He threw for 629 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception, which is solid for a freshman. But it was his running game that really flashed potential: 458 yards on just 82 carries, good for third on the team, and he led the Bulldogs with eight rushing touchdowns. Now, as the clear starter for this campaign, he just put up monster numbers in Week 1, proving he’s ready to take a huge step forward.
The Bulldogs will look to keep that momentum rolling when they take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their Week 2 matchup. Kickoff is set for Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Everyone will be watching to see if Taylor can keep up this “truth and the light” level of play.
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.
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