STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby is still keeping details slim about star quarterback Kamario Taylor’s injury status.
Lebby once again during his Oct. 12 press conference referred to the upcoming SEC availability report for an update on Taylor. That report will release Oct. 14 ahead of No. 19 MSU (4-1, 2-1) at No. 21 LSU (4-2, 1-2) on Oct. 17 (11 a.m., ESPN) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Who would start in Taylor’s place if he can’t play against the Tigers? Here was Lebby’s response:
“Right now, the focus is getting (Taylor) ready to play and then having the ability to continue to create the depth in the room,” Lebby said. “Billy (Puckett) and AJ (Swann) obviously are the two guys that have been competing since Day 1 in fall camp and really last spring. So, those guys obviously have the ability to get work if (Taylor) wasn’t ready to roll.”
Taylor exited in the fourth quarter of Mississippi State’s 56-23 loss against Alabama on Oct. 3. He wore a boot on his right foot for the remainder of the game, with Lebby alluding afterward that he entered the game playing through an injury.
The Bulldogs, who were on an open week after the Alabama game, have not said what Taylor’s exact injury is.
Puckett, a sophomore who was an unranked recruit from Jackson Prep and was the scout team quarterback last season, replaced Taylor in the Alabama game. He’s the only backup quarterback to play this season. Mississippi State has listed Puckett and Appalachian State transfer AJ Swann as co-backups to Taylor on the weekly depth charts.
Swann is a fifth-year senior who’s also played for LSU and Vanderbilt before Appalachian State. He has 18 starts in his career between Vanderbilt and Appalachian State.
Puckett is 8-for-14 this season with 89 passing yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and 24 rushing yards.
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 injury latest, who Mississippi State could start vs LSU if QB is out
About the Author
