SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 23, 2026

Kamario Taylor

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Press Conference

Q. Obviously your goals are team-oriented, but what individual goals are you trying to hit this year to get to those team goals?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: My ultimate goal for myself is for me to play in a minimum of 13 games. That means staying healthy throughout the whole season. That's my ultimate goal this year.

Q. You're the highest-rated quarterback recruit in Mississippi State history. What does that title mean to you and how do you plan on living up to that this season?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It means a lot to me, honestly. We have had a great amount of quarterbacks come through the program. So it's a blessing. It's an honor for me to be highly ranked like that. And it motivates me to show the people why Mississippi State chose me and why I chose Mississippi State.

Q. You were able to start the Egg Bowl last year. Coming into this season, this is now your offense. How do you handle the pressure of being the captain of the crew on the offensive side of the ball?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: My whole life, pressure has always been a part of it. So it's nothing new. But I was always taught that pressure is a privilege. If you receive the type of pressure of a starting quarterback, that means you deserve the title, you've earned it, so you just gotta go live up to it.

Q. I'm not far away from Anthony Evans' hometown. Really excited to see him come back in that area and play football. Can you talk a little bit about the relationship you have with Anthony?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: Anthony is a guy, he's a very understanding guy. He's been around a lot of great quarterbacks, so he understands that quarterback is a hard position, is a difficult position. He tries his hardest to make my job easier in every way that he could possible.

Q. You played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game when you were in high school. Now that that is an annual rivalry, what does that mean to you to be able to play it in Davis Wade?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It's a surreal feeling. Growing up as a Mississippi State fan, like playing Alabama in Davis Wade this year, it's going to be something that -- Mississippi hasn't beat Alabama in high school in like six years.

So it's going to be something to look forward to, give our fans something to come watch, to be excited about, especially playing, they're a great team, in Davis Wade.

Q. What does it mean to you coming from Mississippi to represent Mississippi State at media days today?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It's a blessing. In all honesty, just a small-time kid from Macon, Mississippi, got chose to come to Tampa, Florida for SEC media days, to represent a Division I school as in Mississippi State. It's a great honor.

That let me know that all my hard work is starting to pay off and I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet.

Q. Last season Shapen was our starting quarterback. And in the tough times people were saying, play Kamario, why isn't Kamario playing. How does it feel now that you're the starter? And how does that supportive fan base affect your performance?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It lets me know that they have my back through thick and thin. So it gives me something to try to make sure they're having great Saturdays in Starkville.

I always told them just bring their popcorn, prop their feet up and they're gonna be in for a show.

Q. You talked about that goal of 13 games. Now that you're the starter, I'm curious what is the mindset change when you get into that role? I know you started in the Egg Bowl at the end of the season and in the bowl game as well, but what is that mindset shift when it comes to the offseason for you?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: I've just been doing a better job taking care of my body, staying in the training room as much as I can. Sometimes, some days they have to kick me out of the training room.

So I'm just trying my best to do the best that I can to stay available for my team throughout this whole season.

Q. What is it about Coach Lebby's system that appeals to you as a quarterback, makes your life easier? And maybe what's the next progression or step in it as you can use your legs a little bit more and mobility shine in the SEC?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: With a guy like Leb he's an offensive-minded guy, offensive guru, quarterback genius. Just for me, playing with him, he makes my life so much easier because he knows how quarterbacks think. He's been around a lot of great D.C.s, played against a lot of great D.C.s. He knows what defenses want to do against his offensive scheme. He's already seen it all.

So just making sure that I'm as prepared as I can be going into a game is the best thing that he can possibly do.

Q. Wanted to ask about your experience of the Manning Passing Academy. Just kind of what that was like seeing other SEC quarterbacks. And specifically Marcel Reed, if you had much of a chance to meet with him?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: Just being at MPA, it was a great honor, blessing to be around those great guys.

Marcel was actually my roommate. Just me being around him, talking game with him, talking ball with him, he's one of a kind on and off the field. He's one-of-a-kind. His mindset, just different.

The way he approaches the game, he's always thinking about football -- he's a great quarterback, a great person, off the field and he's gonna be a very special person this season for them.

Q. Let's fast-forward to a Saturday in September in Starkville. You're in the tunnel. You're looking out. All you can hear is thousand of cowbells going off and on, off and on. Do you still get goosebumps?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: I was always taught -- because I get nervous before every game. It's just something about it. But if you aren't nervous when you hear those cowbells, you're not prepared. That's how I look at it.

Q. You and Fluff are kind of a dynamic duo on the field. How does your relationship on and off the field help both of you succeed?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: Fluff is like my brother. And turns out he just became my neighbor in my new neighborhood. So now we're gonna be together even more and more.

So on the field and off the field, he's a real life a brother to me. He's been to my mom's house, been to church with me. So our relationship just continues to build. And it shows. It shows on the field. We're able to just build, our chemistry is just insane out there.

Q. What can you say just about your offensive line and how that they're gonna be an advantage for you guys this year?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: My offensive line have put in a great amount of work. They're one big unit. They all think alike. They all want to produce the same productivity out there. They all want to just protect the quarterback.

Those guys come over there, they're very consistent. They be up there every day after practice is over with three to six hours, just out there getting work in. So it's a good sign from them.

Q. How does it feel to sort of be shouted out by Nick Saban saying that you could be the truth and the light from such an iconic coach?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It was actually crazy. I didn't see it in real time, but I got a ton of messages about it, just knowing that he acknowledges or even notices me. So Nick Saban has coached a lot of great quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones. He just coached a lot of guys. So to be recognized by him is a very, very surreal feeling. It's a blessing, and it shows me and tells me that the route that I'm going in, if I keep going, I'm going to be able to do some special things.

Q. Your younger brother J.T. is on the team with you this year. What is that relationship like with you guys now that you're playing together?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: It's the same as high school, honestly. I'm trying to hold him accountable, trying to teach him the way to be a college player, college football player, college athlete, college student-athlete, actually, trying to just make his life easier since I've already been through it. Just the same way in high school, trying to coach him up, just trying to be a big brother?

Q. Every player and coach who has been here so far, and I don't think you'll change, talks about the importance of culture. What's culture like in the locker room at Mississippi State?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: The culture in the locker room at Mississippi State is a brotherhood. That's the reason why I chose Mississippi State, honestly, because I like the culture of the town itself, the culture of the program, just knowing what it could be, knowing what it was. Knowing what the potential of what it should be.

That culture is a brotherhood. We're locked in in the locker room.

Q. How are you trying to emerge as a leader as you're a sophomore and there are a lot of older guys on the team, how are you planning on leading the team throughout the season?

KAMARIO TAYLOR: For starters, I have to earn their respect, which I feel like I did by me just doing everything, what I do off the field, handle my business, take care of my body, trying to be -- trying to show them I'm mature even though aim a youngster, trying to be mature on the field, just grind as hard as I could. I'd rather go out there and die on the field for my brothers and I show them that. So I feel like that has earned their respect.