Kamario Taylor has responded to comments from Nick Saban suggesting he would pursue the Mississippi State quarterback if still coaching. On ESPN’s College GameDay, Saban said he would be “trying to get Kamario Taylor to get into the portal.” Taylor, however, has made clear he has no intention to transfer.
In a video posted on X by Robbie Faulk of the Mississippi State collective State 1878, Taylor addressed the swirling transfer speculation before MSU’s win over South Carolina on September 19. “I know there’s a lot of talk about everything that’s going on,” Taylor said. “I hear it. People text me about it all the time. I know that God didn’t place me here in the beginning to leave, to transfer, to do anything like that. I know that God placed me here for a reason and I’m going to try to fulfill that purpose.”
Taylor’s commitment to Mississippi State has been consistent since he pledged in October 2023 during his junior year of high school. When coach Zach Arnett was fired and Jeff Lebby took over, Taylor never wavered in his loyalty. Taylor, a native of Macon, Mississippi, attended every home game in 2024 despite the Bulldogs’ 2-10 season.
His mother, LaQuandra Conner, told the Clarion Ledger before the season that she did not believe transfer rumours and that Taylor was not driven by NIL deals. “He didn’t care about NIL or what people say about NIL,” she said. “People were saying that maybe he’s going to transfer out when these big schools are going to offer. I don’t see it happening. I don’t. I don’t care how much money anybody offered him in the NIL industry. Kamario is where he said God told him to be.”
Former Mississippi State defensive lineman Chris Jones, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, expressed his support to keep Taylor in Starkville. On September 24, Jones told reporters he was planning to donate money to Mississippi State’s NIL efforts. “We’ve got to keep this quarterback. We’ve got to keep him around,” Jones said. “With all these NIL teams spending $45-50 million a year, the salary cap doesn’t exist in college, so definitely trying to keep our quarterback with us.”
The NCAA’s transfer portal opens on January 2, though so far there is no indication that Taylor will enter it. Ranked as a four-star recruit by 247Sports Composite, Taylor was No. 119 nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, the No. 11 quarterback, and the No. 4 player in Mississippi. He received offers from 10 programs, including Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt, but restricted his official visits to UCF and Mississippi State.
Entering the upcoming game against No. 21 Missouri on September 26, Taylor has completed 68.3% of his passes for 832 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception. He has added 178 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Taylor has quickly become a cornerstone for the Bulldogs, who currently hold a 3-0 overall record and sit 1-0 in SEC play.
Despite Saban’s remarks and mounting interest from other programs, Taylor’s public statements and the backing of those close to him suggest he remains committed to Mississippi State. The transfer portal will open in the new year, but for now, Taylor’s focus is on the season ahead with the Bulldogs.
According to Yahoo Sports.
