Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is reportedly set to earn as much as $9 million through a new name, image and likeness deal to remain with the program, a sum that would rank him among the highest-paid players in college football.
According to College Sports Network, the deal guarantees Taylor $7.5 million, with incentive clauses that could push the total to $9 million.
The figure has drawn attention on social media, where one commenter claimed the deal was “more than the GDP of Mississippi.” That comparison does not hold up: Mississippi’s actual gross domestic product exceeds $162 billion. Even so, the remark captures how unusual it is for a single college athlete’s compensation to draw comparisons to state-level economic output at all.
Other social media users reacted with a mix of sarcasm and concern. One suggested that road improvement projects across Mississippi would need to be shelved to cover Taylor’s pay. Another said the school had previously claimed it lacked the money for such a deal. A separate critic argued the university was concentrating too many resources on a single player, while others expressed worry that escalating NIL figures could eventually undermine college football as a whole.
Taylor missed much of this season after undergoing surgery for turf toe. Mississippi State announced in October that the procedure was successful and that he is expected to return at full strength for next season.
Despite the injury, Taylor struck an optimistic tone about the program’s direction.
“When I got to Mississippi State, I knew we could build something special. These last few weeks have only made me want it more,” Taylor said in a statement. “I promise you this — big things are ahead for this program. Believe that.”
The deal underscores how far NIL compensation has risen since the NCAA began permitting athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, with top college quarterbacks now commanding pay packages that rival professional contracts.
