Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is finalizing an agreement to remain with the Bulldogs and is expected to re-sign on Wednesday, November 11, according to multiple outlets. The contract is expected to make Taylor college football's highest-paid quarterback, securing a major player for Mississippi State while further reducing the options available to teams seeking a transfer.
Taylor's anticipated return follows several other reported retention agreements in recent weeks. Missouri's Austin Simmons, Oregon State's Braden Atkinson and Nebraska's Anthony Colandrea have reportedly signed deals to stay at their schools. Those agreements may still face challenges, as Darian Mensah's contract at Duke did last season, but the pool of potential quarterback targets is shrinking.
Eligibility and NFL decisions also limit the prospective market. Just 13 of the country's top 25 passers are listed as underclassmen. Several members of that group are expected either to leave early for the NFL Draft or remain at their current programs, with Alabama's Keelon Russell and Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker among them. Other quarterbacks have only recently changed schools and may be reluctant to move again, including Wake Forest's Gio Lopez, Baylor's DJ Lagway and Kentucky's Kenny Minchey.
If the situation holds, Memphis's Marcus Stokes, Texas State's Brad Jackson and NC State's CJ Bailey could emerge among the leading available options. Meanwhile, several programs could be searching for a quarterback. Texas A&M and Oklahoma see the position as the missing piece in their efforts to return to the playoff. Indiana and Miami have reached the top with transfers, while Oklahoma State and Notre Dame could enter the market if their passers depart for the NFL.
Uncertainty remains around some prominent names. Texas quarterback Arch Manning has settled down during the second half of the season, though rumors have suggested he could consider other options. Oregon's Dante Moore could also seek a new start after a concussion sidelined him for the second half of the season. Moore returned to college after passing up the opportunity to be the NFL Draft's No. 2 selection.
LSU and Ohio State also face decisions about quarterback contracts involving Sam Leavitt and Julian Sayin, respectively. Their choices come as the potential alternatives in the transfer market become more limited.
Transfers continue to account for much of the country's leading quarterback production. Eight of the top 10 passers previously transferred, including all three at the top of the list. With programs that develop quarterbacks also turning to upperclassmen, the supply of available players is tightening as schools look for immediate help.
