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Why QB Kamario Taylor was unhappy with his Mississippi State football spring game
TL;DR
Quarterback Kamario Taylor expressed dissatisfaction with his performance during the Mississippi State football spring game despite the offense's success. He aims for perfection and acknowledges areas for improvement.
Why QB Kamario Taylor was unhappy with his Mississippi State football spring game
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football offense connected on big plays and protected quarterback Kamario Taylor relatively well in the spring game at Davis Wade Stadium on April 11.
Yet Taylor, a sophomore in his first season as a full-time starter, said afterward he wasn't pleased with his performance.
"Overall, I think I did not play good, in my opinion," he said. "I had some plays where I made plays and my receivers made plays for me. I had some plays I messed up on, so you know how that goes. Me, I'm kind of a perfectionist so I want to be perfect every time I step on the field. I know that's not reality, but that's the goal and the standard (coach Jeff Lebby) has set for me. So, I don't think I did too well, but we know what we can improve on."
The Bulldogs did not split into maroon and white teams, no score was kept in the 100-play scrimmage and there were no stats. They frequently practiced situational drills such as third downs and red zone. Tackling wasn't allowed.
Lebby and Taylor particularly pointed to two plays that could've been better. One of them was an interception Taylor threw to Kelley Jones on a short corner route on the right sideline. Taylor said he needed to throw the ball high and outside to complete the pass to Marquis Johnson. It was the only turnover by the offense in the scrimmage.
On the other play, Taylor said he messed up an assignment and "ran the wrong thing," which led to an incomplete pass.
Otherwise, Taylor threw two touchdown passes, a 38-yarder to Anthony Evans III and a 9-yard pass in a tight window to Sanfrisco Magee. The offense scored two other touchdowns while Taylor was at quarterback, including running back Fluff Bothwell throwing a 75-yard touchdown to Magee on a trick play.
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"He's continued to get better and better," Lebby said of Taylor. "The guy works incredibly hard . . . I just love his urgency and his chase to get better. I think today, as we are all very aware, this is not a setting that's really conducive of what he is from a four-quarter standpoint and an every-down standpoint.
"This guy, when he turns live, is different. So, it's really good to be in situations that are controlled where he's got to continue to develop in the pocket and do some things that maybe weren't as natural in the very beginning as it is now. I'm proud of where he's at."
Mississippi State defense was aggressive under coordinator Zach Arnett
The Mississippi State defense was affected by injuries, including linemen Will Whitson and Kalvin Dinkins and linebackers Zakari Tillman and Jalen Smith, all of whom are expected to be key contributors in 2026.
The defense allowed a handful of big plays but seemed at its best under coordinator Zach Arnett when it dialed up blitzes, especially as the scrimmage prolonged.
There were seven sacks in the scrimmage, three while Taylor was the quarterback. One of the sacks by DJ Reed was on Taylor's blindside and could've been a strip sack had he been allowed to tackle Taylor.
Lebby said he was pleased with the starting offensive line unit, which consisted of Miles McVay, DJ Chester, Cannon Boone, LJ Prudhomme and Jakheem Shumpert-Perkins. Blake Steen rotated in at guard, too. Lebby particularly lauded Shumpert-Perkins as a spring breakout who has solidified one of the starting tackle spots.
"They gave up two sacks but the pocket for most of the day was pretty clean," Lebby said. "On the other side of the ball, I want more from being able to press the pocket and win some one-on-ones. I thought in the 2-minute (drill) at the end of it, the way we were able to protect on a couple things was really good in that situation.
"So, the stress for me is making sure as we go finish the next three practices next week we continue to develop the depth of our roster."
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Kamario Taylor unhappy with his Mississippi State football spring game
Q&A
Why was Kamario Taylor unhappy with his performance in the spring game?
Kamario Taylor felt he did not play well, citing mistakes and his high standards for perfection as reasons for his dissatisfaction.
What specific aspects of the game did Kamario Taylor mention in his critique?
Taylor noted that while he made some plays, he also had mistakes that contributed to his overall disappointment in his performance.
How does Kamario Taylor's performance relate to his role as a sophomore starting quarterback?
As a sophomore in his first season as a full-time starter, Taylor is adjusting to higher expectations and aims to meet the standards set by his coach.
What did Kamario Taylor say about the team's offensive performance during the spring game?
Taylor acknowledged that the offense connected on big plays and had good protection, but he still focused on his individual performance rather than the team's success.
