Dak Prescott (15) is a dynamic runner. (Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)
When you think about returning quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference for 2014, it is only natural that you think of Auburn’s Nick Marshall and Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace. After all, Marshall rushed for 1,068 yards, scored 12 rushing touchdowns and led his team to the national championship game.
But hold on just a minute. Marshall is not the only returning quarterback in the league that defenses are going to have to respect.
There is a man over in Starkville, Mississippi who is being overlooked. He has put up almost equally as impressive numbers as Auburn’s leader. His name is Dak Prescott and mostly only Mississippi State fans are aware of him.
Prescott has only started seven games in his injury-plagued career but he has won four of them. He enjoyed a stellar sophomore season last year before having injury problems toward the end of the season. He threw for 1,940 yards and 10 touchdowns but he is much more than just a passer. Last year he led the Bulldogs in rushing with 829 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“He’s the best running quarterback that Dan Mullen’s ever coached,” said ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer, a former Florida quarterback himself. “He’s got that ‘it’ factor. I’m not comparing him to this guy as a player, but I do compare him to Tim Tebow in respect to his leadership and his competitive spirit.”
Prescott shook off a nerve injury in his shoulder and came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs to a win in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss and then was named the MVP of State’s Liberty Bowl win over Rice. He returns this season as the SEC quarterback career leader with 17 rushing touchdowns — and trails only Marshall in career rushing yardage.
Prescott’s 2,769 yards of total offense last season was the third-highest single-season total in MSU history.
So if healthy, Prescott will be one of the top quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference.
“You could see in him that he had that ‘it’ [factor]; he had that drive,” Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said. “Guys kind of have it or they don’t. He naturally has that ‘it.’ ”
Brian Johnson, Mississippi State’s quarterback coach, is well aware of what he has in Prescott.
“I don’t think you can ask for a better young man. When you see him you can tell, he’s a quarterback,” Johnson said. “He carries himself with a certain demeanor that draws people to him.”
Prescott will have plenty of help around him this season. State returns eight starters on offense and eight on defense. Offensively, the Bulldogs lose running back LaDarius Perkins and offensive linemen Gabe Jackson and Charles Siddoway but the receiving corps returns intact and, if Prescott can stay healthy, the Bulldogs should be able to fill the holes on the line and be a point-scoring machine in 2014.
Three seniors will make up the defensive line and the whole defense returns a total of 70 career starts, all of which means that State looks to keep its streak of winning seasons alive. The schedule looks a little better this year with always tough opponents Texas A&M and Auburn playing in Davis-Wade Stadium.
