Who is Kamario Taylor’s backup? Jeff Lebby updates Mississippi State QB competition

• Kamario Taylor is set as Mississippi State’s starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
• Four other quarterbacks are competing for the backup position during spring practice.
• Coach Jeff Lebby is looking to add players from the transfer portal, specifically an edge rusher.

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football knows sophomore Kamario Taylor will be the starting quarterback in 2026.

But as for his backup, that’s still to be decided as the Bulldogs held their first spring practice on March 17. Coach Jeff Lebby said it will be an ongoing competition between MSU’s four other quarterbacks on the roster: AJ Swann, Jaden Rashada, Parker Puckett and Brodie McWhorter.

“There’s great competition for the No. 2 spot, which I love,” Lebby said. “The other four guys are going to get a ton of reps. We’re going to cut them evenly. There’s going to be a different No. 2 every single day until one guy starts to separate a little bit.”

Swann and Rashada transferred to Mississippi State this season but with different profiles.

Swann is a veteran who’s started in 18 games in his career between Vanderbilt, LSU and Appalachian State.

Rashada is a redshirt junior who’s played in nine games in the last three seasons at Arizona State, Georgia and Sacramento State. He had two starts at Sacramento State before he suffered a thumb injury.

McWhorter is a freshman from Kingston, Georgia, an early-enrolled three-star in the 2026 recruiting class. Puckett is a redshirt freshman who walked on from Jackson Prep.

Taylor will be in his first season as the full-time starter.

MORE: How Kamario Taylor looked in first Mississippi State spring practice after injury

Mississippi State still eyeing players in transfer portal

While there is no spring transfer window this season, Lebby said Mississippi State is still attempting to fill open roster spots. Players can no longer enter the transfer portal, but they can still commit to teams if they haven’t already.

247Sports reported Baylor edge rusher Kamauryn Morgan, the No. 1 uncommitted transfer and No. 18 player overall, is visiting MSU on April 4 and Auburn on March 28.

“There’s a chance for a rush, a jack/edge type player,” said Lebby, who did not mention anyone Mississippi State was targeting. “That will be one piece. And then from there, it will really be some depth pieces, whether it’s a backer, a safety, best available. There’s very, very few spots left.

“If we have the ability to add one more rusher, I’d be excited about that. There’s a couple guys left out there that I think are good enough to help on Saturdays and that will be something we continue to work through.”

Will Mississippi State football hold a spring game?

Mississippi State has not announced any plans about holding a spring game. Lebby said details should be revealed soon, though.

“We’ve got a couple things in the works that we’ll announce here hopefully in the next week,” Lebby said. “Some fan engagement things that will go on at one of our big spring scrimmages.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.