Kamario Taylor: On3, Mississippi State, Stats, 247, Age and Injury

Kamario Taylor has quickly become one of the most talked-about young quarterbacks in college football. The Mississippi State sophomore entered the 2026 season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback after showing flashes of his ability as a true freshman in 2025.

Taylor, a Macon, Mississippi, native, played his high school football at Noxubee County. He was a highly regarded four-star recruit and chose Mississippi State over several major programs. His combination of size, arm strength and rushing ability made him one of the most closely followed quarterbacks in the 2025 recruiting class.

Who is Kamario Taylor?

Kamario Antonio LaQuan Taylor is a quarterback for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He wears No. 1 and is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds by Mississippi State.

Taylor is from Macon, Mississippi, and attended Noxubee County High School. He became Mississippi State’s highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history, according to the university’s official biography.

His high school career showed why recruiting services were interested in him. In 2024, Taylor threw for more than 2,400 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding more than 1,100 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

Across his high school career, he recorded more than 7,000 passing yards and 100 passing touchdowns, along with nearly 2,000 rushing yards.

Kamario Taylor On3 ranking

On3 listed Taylor as a four-star recruit from the 2025 class. Its recruiting profile rated him as the No. 77 national prospect and No. 8 quarterback in the class. The On3 profile also lists him as the No. 4 player in Mississippi and gives him a 94.76 recruiting rating.

Mississippi State’s official profile gives another indication of his recruiting status. The school says Taylor was ranked No. 30 overall, No. 7 at quarterback and No. 2 in Mississippi by On3 during the recruiting process.

These rankings can differ because recruiting rankings are updated over time and different services use different ranking systems.

Kamario Taylor and 247Sports

247Sports was also high on Taylor coming out of high school. Mississippi State describes him as a consensus four-star recruit according to On3, 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals.

Taylor was also included on the 2025 247Sports Freaks List at No. 50. His athletic ability was an important part of his recruiting profile, particularly because he could create plays with both his arm and legs.

The 247Sports Composite previously listed Taylor as a four-star prospect and No. 135 nationally in the 2025 recruiting class.

Kamario Taylor age

On3 currently lists Kamario Taylor’s age as 19. His official Mississippi State biography lists his birthday as February 2 but does not publish his birth year.

Taylor is a sophomore during the 2026 college football season.

Kamario Taylor Mississippi State career

Taylor arrived at Mississippi State with significant expectations but initially saw his playing time come in specific situations.

During his true freshman season in 2025, he appeared in 11 games and made two starts. He completed 43 of 77 passes for 629 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

His rushing production was particularly notable. Taylor ran for 458 yards on 82 carries and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He finished third on the team in rushing yards while leading Mississippi State in rushing touchdowns.

Taylor’s first career start came in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss. He rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in that game, giving Mississippi State a glimpse of his ability as a dual-threat quarterback.

He later started the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest. Taylor passed for 241 yards and a touchdown while adding 63 rushing yards and another touchdown.

Kamario Taylor 2026 stats

Taylor entered the 2026 season as Mississippi State’s full-time starting quarterback.

Through the first three games, he had completed 56 of 82 passes for 832 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts. His total offense was 1,010 yards during that three-game stretch.

His first three games included:

Against Louisiana-Monroe, Taylor produced 354 passing yards and four touchdown passes. He followed that with 227 yards and three touchdowns against Minnesota before throwing for 251 yards and four touchdowns against South Carolina.

Kamario Taylor stats vs Missouri

Mississippi State hosted Missouri on September 26, 2026, in a ranked SEC matchup.

Taylor finished the game with 27 completions on 38 attempts for 360 passing yards and three touchdowns. Mississippi State defeated Missouri 31-24 after rallying in the fourth quarter.

His biggest throw came late in the fourth quarter when he connected with Sanfrisco Magee on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 3:57 remaining. That touchdown gave Mississippi State the lead.

The victory moved Mississippi State to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC play.

What happened to Kamario Taylor?

Taylor’s status became a major talking point during the Missouri game because he briefly left the field with an injury.

During the third quarter, Taylor limped off following a failed third-down conversion and went into the medical tent. He later returned to the sideline and was seen throwing passes during a commercial break.

An early report from the Clarion Ledger stated that Taylor had not returned to the game at that point, with Mississippi State’s offense also off the field. At that stage, he was listed at 19-of-29 passing for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

However, the subsequent Associated Press game report confirmed that Taylor returned and finished the game with 360 passing yards and three touchdown passes. That means the initial injury report reflected the situation while the game was still in progress rather than his final statistics.

As of the latest available reports, a specific diagnosis and timetable for the September 26 injury had not been publicly established.

Kamario Taylor previous injury

Taylor also dealt with an injury at the end of his freshman season.

After the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest, Mississippi State announced that Taylor had undergone a minor procedure to address a sprained left ankle. The school said a quick and full recovery was expected and that he was expected to be available for spring practice.

Taylor subsequently participated in spring practice as Mississippi State’s projected starting quarterback. On3 reported in March 2026 that he was taking part in his first spring as QB1 after recovering from the offseason procedure.

Why Kamario Taylor is getting attention

Taylor’s rise has been driven by several parts of his game. His 6-foot-4 frame gives him a strong physical presence in the pocket, while his rushing ability creates another dimension for Mississippi State’s offense.

His deep passing has also been a major feature early in his college career. Mississippi State noted that 10 of his first 16 career passing touchdowns came on plays of at least 20 yards.

His 2026 start has also been statistically impressive. After three games, Mississippi State reported that Taylor ranked among the national leaders in passing efficiency and passing touchdowns. He was also leading the SEC in passing touchdowns and total yards at that point.

Kamario Taylor high school stats

Before joining Mississippi State, Taylor established himself as one of Mississippi’s top high school quarterbacks.

At Noxubee County, he helped his team reach the Mississippi 3A State Championship game in three consecutive seasons from 2022 through 2024.

His 2024 season included more than 2,400 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, more than 1,100 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He completed 56% of his passes while throwing only four interceptions.

He was also named the 2024 Mississippi 3A Mr. Football and was a Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen selection.

Kamario Taylor and Mississippi State’s future

Taylor’s development has become an important part of Mississippi State’s offense. After beginning his college career as a situational player, he moved into the starting role and produced major numbers during his sophomore campaign.

His performance against Missouri was another significant chapter in that progression. Despite leaving the field briefly with an injury, he returned and helped Mississippi State complete a fourth-quarter comeback.

The immediate focus now is Taylor’s health following the Missouri game and whether he is able to continue as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback when Mississippi State returns to action.

Conclusion

Kamario Taylor has gone from a highly rated Mississippi high school prospect to Mississippi State’s starting quarterback. On3 and 247Sports both rated him as a four-star recruit, while Mississippi State identifies him as the highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history.

His freshman season produced 629 passing yards, 458 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. In 2026, his production increased dramatically, with 832 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes through his first three games.

Taylor also finished the September 26 Missouri game with 360 passing yards and three touchdowns despite briefly leaving the field with an injury. The latest reports confirm that he returned to the game, although a specific diagnosis for the injury had not yet been announced.

FAQs

How old is Kamario Taylor?

On3 lists Kamario Taylor as 19 years old. His official Mississippi State profile lists his birthday as February 2.

What position does Kamario Taylor play?

Taylor plays quarterback for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Where is Kamario Taylor from?

Taylor is from Macon, Mississippi, and attended Noxubee County High School.

What was Kamario Taylor’s On3 ranking?

On3’s recruiting information lists Taylor as a four-star prospect and a highly ranked quarterback in the 2025 class.

What was Kamario Taylor’s 2025 stat line?

As a freshman in 2025, Taylor passed for 629 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 458 yards and eight touchdowns.

Did Kamario Taylor get injured against Missouri?

Yes. Taylor briefly left the September 26, 2026, game against Missouri after appearing to suffer an injury. He entered the medical tent but later returned and finished the game.

What were Kamario Taylor’s stats against Missouri?

Taylor completed 27 of 38 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns as Mississippi State defeated Missouri 31-24.

Who is Kamario Taylor’s backup at Mississippi State?

An injury report during the Missouri game identified Billy Puckett or AJ Swann as the quarterbacks behind Taylor on the Mississippi State depth chart.