Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is expected to become the latest quarterback to re-sign with his program on Wednesday as he finalizes a deal with the Bulldogs, multiple media outlets report.
With a contract expected to make him the highest-paid quarterback in sports, Taylor’s retention is a watershed moment for the program. It’s also another shot at the heart of the transfer portal quarterback class.
In recent weeks, Missouri’s Austin Simmons, Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson and Nebraska’s Anthony Colandrea have all reportedly signed deals to return to their programs. While many contracts could be tested – like Darian Mensah at Duke last season – the number of portal targets is quickly dwindling.
Of the top 25 passers in college football, only 13 of them are listed as students. Among that group, several are expected to either enter the NFL Draft early or return to their current schools, including Alabama’s Keelon Russell and Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker.
There is another group of quarterbacks who have recently joined a program who may not want to start all over again. That includes names like Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez, Baylor’s DJ Lagway and Kentucky’s Kenny Minchey.
Unless something changes, the best quarterbacks on the board might be Memphis’ Marcus Stokes, Texas State’s Brad Jackson or NC State’s CJ Bailey — good players, but not ready to win a national championship.
To complicate matters, a staggering number of teams are hoping to find a program savior in the transfer portal. Texas A&M and Oklahoma view themselves as a quarterback away from returning to the postseason. Indiana and Miami have climbed transfers to the top. Even Oklahoma State and Notre Dame could look to the market if they lose pass rushers to the NFL.
Of course, there are a few wild cards in the mix. Texas quarterback Arch Manning settled in in the second half of the year, but rumors swirled that he might explore his options. The same is true for Oregon’s Dante Moore, who turned down the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft to return to school. After missing the second half of the season with a concussion, he may want to get a fresh start.
Schools like LSU (Sam Leavitt) and Ohio State (Julian Sayin) will also have to make tough decisions on quarterback contracts. But after looking at the market, they would be wise not to think too much.
Ready-made transfers have become a paradigm-shifting resource in the age of transfer portals. Eight of the nation’s top 10 passers are transfers, including each of the top three. But as even developmental programs begin to cater to upperclassmen, the pipeline quickly dries up.
Dozens of fans could soon head to the portal market in hopes of finding a program savior. There is simply no supply to meet the demand.
Gn sports
