Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor watched the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs’ loss to Alabama in a boot on his right foot as the team prepared for LSU. The Kamario Taylor LSU status centers on his mobility, and Mississippi State has not disclosed a diagnosis.
Mississippi State Bulldogs On SI reported that ESPN’s Pete Thamel said Taylor was limited in practice. Mississippi State has not named a starter if Taylor cannot play.
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Lebby said Taylor’s inability to use his legs changed Mississippi State’s offense against Alabama.
- Parker Billy Puckett and AJ Swann are the Bulldogs’ co-backups, with neither named the starter if Taylor cannot play.
- Mississippi State has six SEC games among its final seven contests.
Kamario Taylor LSU Status Centers on Mobility
Taylor threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama, while also throwing two interceptions, losing a fumble and taking five sacks. Mississippi State finished with 18 net rushing yards, including the yardage lost on sacks.
Lebby said Taylor’s inability to use his legs changed the offense against Alabama. That assessment puts the quarterback’s mobility at the center of the decision ahead of LSU, beyond the question of whether he can take snaps.
Taylor’s rushing threat is part of how Mississippi State’s offense functions, and his limited movement against Alabama coincided with a difficult day for the team’s running game. The Bulldogs’ 18 net rushing yards include sack losses, so the figure reflects both rushing production and the yards surrendered when Taylor was taken down.
The Alabama performance also included three passing touchdowns alongside turnovers and sacks. Those numbers give Mississippi State several factors to weigh: Taylor’s ability to contribute as a runner, his passing production and the risk of putting a quarterback on the field if his mobility is restricted.
Mississippi State Quarterback Options Behind Taylor
Parker Billy Puckett and AJ Swann are Mississippi State’s co-backups. Puckett has completed 8 of 14 passes for 89 yards, while Swann has 18 career starts.
Those figures represent different kinds of experience: Puckett’s available passing production and Swann’s history as a starter. Neither has been identified as the choice if Taylor cannot play, so the decision would involve weighing experience, mobility and offensive fit.
A change at quarterback would also mean choosing how Mississippi State wants to operate against LSU. Taylor’s ability to run is a factor in the offense, while the backup options bring their own records of playing experience; the available figures do not make either player an announced starter.
Quarterback Numbers Set the LSU Context
| Quarterback | Relevant production or experience |
|---|---|
| Kamario Taylor | 258 passing yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, one lost fumble and five sacks against Alabama |
| Parker Billy Puckett | 8 completions on 14 attempts for 89 yards |
| AJ Swann | 18 career starts |
| Sam Leavitt | 10 completions on 22 attempts for 82 yards and two interceptions against Mississippi State last season |
Sam Leavitt’s line against Mississippi State last season provides another statistical reference for the LSU matchup. He completed 10 of 22 passes for 82 yards and threw two interceptions in that game.
The comparison does not resolve Mississippi State’s quarterback decision, but it sets out the production and experience figures relevant to the discussion. Taylor’s Alabama numbers include both touchdown production and turnovers, while Puckett’s listed passing line and Swann’s career starts describe different parts of the backup picture.
LSU Matchup Raises the Cost of a Quarterback Gamble
LSU coach Lane Kiffin praised Taylor as a dual-threat quarterback, describing him as a problem for defenses as both a runner and passer when healthy. Kiffin also pointed to Taylor’s late-game running ability from the previous season and said the quarterback had improved in his second year.
That evaluation underscores why Taylor’s ability to run matters to the matchup. Mississippi State must consider whether he can contribute as a runner as well as a passer, while Puckett and Swann remain the available alternatives if the Bulldogs need another quarterback.
Mississippi State has six SEC games among its final seven contests, making the stretch a significant part of the team’s schedule. Taylor’s status and the identity of a starter for the LSU matchup have not been announced.
