Winning the lottery is nothing more than a daydream for most, but Mississippi State is on the verge of finding out exactly how it feels. If the name Kamario Taylor sounds familiar, it's because the Bulldogs' sophomore quarterback went viral in Week 1 when he connected with receiver Marquis Johnson for a 70-yard touchdown strike against ULM. Taylor launched the pass from his own 26-yard line, and the ball landed in Johnson's arms at the 19-yard line of ULM.
Special Delivery 🎯@KamarioTaylor x @_SpeedyQuis https://t.co/DbMlQ2JilZ pic.twitter.com/lOw18tjC57 Taylor has all the tools to be a superstar. His 6-foot-4 and 230-pound frame immediately stands out, and we've already seen a great example of his raw power from the pocket. In addition to his size and strength, Taylor can fly when he gets into open space, piling up more than 2,000 rushing yards in his high school career.
A member of the 2025 signing class, Taylor was a four-star recruit and the No. 8 quarterback. Taylor's athleticism helped him climb up the rankings, but there were still questions about whether he could put it all together at the college level. 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins described Taylor as a "lottery ticket" at quarterback -- a player with a low floor but extremely high ceiling. That ticket is very close to cashing for Mississippi State.
If it does, it could change the trajectory of Jeff Lebby's program. Date: Saturday, Sept. 12 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ETLocation: Huntington Bank Stadium -- Minneapolis, MinnesotaTV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App Streaming on Paramount+ The "lottery ticket" nature of Taylor's game was on full display in his first career start, which came against the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss last fall.
It was evident that Taylor still had plenty of room for growth as a passer. He completed fewer than 50 percent of his throws for 178 yards and an interception in a 38-19 loss. That type of performance won't win many games.
That said, 173 rushing yards with two touchdowns is enough to beat some good teams in the future, and that's the exact stat line Taylor posted as he carved up the Rebels' defense on the ground. Kamario Taylor tied up the Egg Bowl 🥚Watch No. 7 Ole Miss-Mississippi State on ABC and the ESPN App https://t.co/Nz7AG4DFyf pic.twitter.com/YfhCr9vZRk Taylor also started the Duke's Mayo Bowl for the Bulldogs, where he was more efficient in the passing game. In a 43-29 loss, Taylor completed 13 of his 22 attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown while adding 63 yards and score on the ground.
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