Dark horse Heisman contender putting team on his back

Moxie. Star power. Swagger. Mojo. The “it” factor. “Je ne sais quoi.” These are all words that are used to describe an athlete when you don’t really understand what you’re watching, but you know that it’s good. A lot of those words have been used to describe Mississippi State‘s Kamario Taylor to start this college football season.

Taylor has led Mississippi State to a 4-0 start, averaging 298 passing yards per game and accounting for 15 total TDs. He has the Bulldogs ranked in the AP Top-25, and dreams of a College Football Playoff berth within reach.

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Sep 12, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) breaks the tackle attempt of Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back John Nestor (17) during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Taylor is certainly exceeding expectations, but anyone who follows recruiting within college football is not entirely surprised. He came out of high school as a consensus 4-star recruit, and the 11th-ranked QB in the 247Sports composite rankings.

He is the highest-rated QB recruit to ever attend Mississippi State. When you watch him play, you quickly see why. Taylor is an exceptional athlete who can extend plays with legs, or pile up yards by taking off on scrambles or designed runs. His arm strength is also off the charts. He makes cross-field throws with ease and is able to put exceptional velocity on routine throws.

He has all the physical tools to be a great quarterback, and he’s put them on full display over the first four weeks of the season.

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Sep 19, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Kamario Taylor also plays in an offense that allows him to make use of these tools. His head coach, Jeff Lebby, came to Mississippi State after previous stops as the OC at both Ole Miss and Oklahoma. He learned from Lane Kiffin and Lincoln Riley.

The Lebby offense is an uptempo offense that utilizes the entire width of the field to create spacing and advantageous matchups. Taylor is the perfect fit at QB because he has the arm strength to throw to wherever the open space is, and his running ability can take advantage of any gaps that the defense leaves. It’s a match made in heaven.

If you haven’t gotten the opportunity to watch Kamario Taylor yet this season, this week is a great opportunity. Taylor is leading the Bulldogs into Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. The game is nationally televised on ABC at noon, and there aren’t exactly a whole lot of other marquee games to watch in that window.

This national spotlight game will allow the entire nation to see what Taylor brings to the table. It will give Taylor an opportunity for a genuine Heisman moment, if he is able to seize the day.