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Kamario Taylor injury update: Mississippi State QB carted off after scary hit late in Duke's Mayo Bowl

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs01/03/26grant_grubbs_

With 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter against Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor suffered an apparent leg injury and left the game. He was carted off the field after being examined by the training staff.

Taylor’s injury occurred when Wake Forest defensive back Ladarius Webb Jr. dove at his legs to make a tackle. Taylor was hit from behind while coming out of a spin move on a quarterback scramble.

Taylor’s teammates kneeled on the field and prayed for him, while he was examined. Taylor had a towel draped over his head as he was carted off the field.

Before leaving the game, the freshman quarterback completed 13-of-his-22 pass attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown, without throwing an interception. Taylor also racked up 63 yards and a score in the ground game.

Taylor saw limited action this season, serving as Blake Shapen‘s backup. However, he also started in Mississippi State’s loss to Ole Miss in its regular-season finale.

In the defeat, Taylor completed 15-of-his-31 pass attempts for 178 yards. He didn’t record a passing TD, but did throw an interception.

While Taylor never found a rhythm in the passing game, he erupted for 173 yards and two scores with his legs. For his performance, he was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. Ahead of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby raved about Taylor’s growth and leadership.

“I haven’t been around anyone like him,” Lebby said of Taylor. “He’s got a lot of work to do, there’s no doubt about that. But just his command, his presence in the building, who he is every single day, there’s this great amount of consistency

“It is really hard for young people to operate that way. I’ve got my thumb on him pretty good every single day and he is naturally about the right things. An incredible kid. He wants to please, he wants to get coached and he wants to play well.”

Kamario Taylor was a four-star prospect and the No. 8 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting cycle. If his injury requires a long-term recovery, Mississippi State could suffer the consequences.

Taylor was set up to the quarterback of the future for Mississippi State. Now, that future appears shaky. Next season will be Lebby’s third season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. In his two years at the helm, he’s led Mississippi State to a 7-18 overall record and a 1-15 mark in conference play.