Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott speaks to the media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in Hoover, Ala.HOOVER, Ala. – Mississippi State junior quarterback Dak Prescott accounted for 2,769 total yards last season, ranking among the top five in the Southeastern Conference.
Prescott rushed for 829 yards and 6.2 yards per carry for a Bulldogs team that won their last three games to finish 7-6, but his efficiency rating placed just 13th in the league. Coach Dan Mullen said Tuesday at SEC media days that his 6-foot-2, 235-pounder from Houghton, La., is more comfortable in the pocket and has improved his deep throws.
“He went into last year as the backup and became the starter due to injuries,” Mullen said. “Then he got hurt and had to miss part of the season, but he still put up some pretty big numbers. Dak is a tremendous worker, and I think he’s a much better passer this year than he was last year.”
Prescott actually owns the highest career completion percentage (.588) in Mississippi State history, and his rushing total last year set a new school standard for quarterbacks. He has improved his footwork and balance on every throw and is eager to see what he can do for an encore, whether that’s continuing to plow through defenders or taking more chances at beating them deep.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better on my deeper passes that I guess people underestimated and underrated me on,” Prescott said. “I’m proving what I can do to my team and people within the facility. I’m getting their trust.