Star Quarterback Kamario Taylor Nears Deal to Return to Mississippi State for 2027
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is closing in on a landmark agreement to stay with the Bulldogs for the 2027 season, with an expected value reaching nearly $6 million annually.
🎓College SportsPhoto: ESPN College Football
Key points
- Kamario Taylor is finalizing a deal to return to Mississippi State for 2027.
- The agreement is projected near the top of the market at roughly $6 million annually.
- Taylor threw 17 touchdowns in six games before suffering a season-ending turf toe injury.
Mississippi State standout quarterback Kamario Taylor is finalizing an agreement on Wednesday to remain with the Bulldogs through the 2027 college football season, according to sources speaking with ESPN. The sophomore signal-caller's new arrangement is anticipated to match the upper echelon of the collegiate quarterback market, projecting near $6 million per year.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Taylor engineered a blazing 4-0 start for Mississippi State this year before encountering a turf toe issue against Missouri on September 26. Although he attempted to play through the discomfort, he ultimately underwent season-ending surgery on October 29. Across six total appearances—including two played while hobbled—Taylor tallied 1,460 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 147 rushing yards, one rushing score, and even caught a touchdown pass, completing 65.4% of his attempts.
The commitment serves as a massive boost for the program, with head coach Jeff Lebby and athletic director Zac Selmon collaborating on an agreement that promises heightened roster investments around the hometown product from Macon, Mississippi. Speculation regarding a potential transfer was firmly dismissed by Taylor earlier in the fall, who emphasized loyalty to the Bulldogs. Set to participate in spring practices, the projected top prospect for the 2028 NFL draft aims to anchor a roster capable of securing a spot in the expanded 24-team College Football Playoff.
- Market Value: Agreement expected to near $6 million annually.
- Injury Recovery: Recovered from surgery following a turf toe setback in September.
- Future Outlook: Slated to return for spring practices and anchor the 2027 playoff push.
Source ESPN College Football — espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/50455234/sources-kamario-taylo… ↗
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