Kamario Taylor finalising reported $7.5 million deal to stay at Mississippi State, could reach $9 million with bonuses

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor's new deal is the latest example of how much it now costs to keep star players in US college football. The university is finalising a new deal with Taylor.

According to a report by sports outlet On3, Taylor will be paid $7.5 million next season, and that number could jump to around $9 million if he collects incentive bonuses. The report said the amount matches mid first-round draft pick money.

College quarterbacks are making upwards of $6 to $7 million this season to lead their respective teams, according to the report, with that number only growing over the next few years.

Taylor did not want to leave the Mississippi State Bulldogs for another school. Staying in Starkville was his priority; he had supported the Bulldogs long before enrolling at Mississippi State. He told the coaching staff he did not want to play elsewhere next season and was not chasing a bigger paycheck.

Mississippi State's donors, however, were not willing to take the risk. They made sure their talented quarterback was taken care of financially, so that no other team could make him think twice about his decision.

Taylor suffered a turf-toe injury earlier in the season. He decided that surgery was the best option to be at 100 percent when the Bulldogs start their off-season training.

Now that his deal to return to Starkville in 2027 is complete, head coach Jeff Lebby can start building around his star quarterback through the transfer portal for next season.

Having the former Heisman Trophy contender return for another season is a major matter for the Mississippi State athletic department, especially from a marketing standpoint. The report said other top college players could command even larger deals as the end of the regular season and the opening of the transfer portal approach.