CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dak Prescott had a big decision to make once the 2014 season came to an end.
The Mississippi State quarterback was draft eligible as a junior and thought hard about forgoing his senior season and turning pro. But he talked with Bulldog coach Dan Mullen. They decided the best thing for his professional future was to return to school for his senior year to work on perfecting his craft.
“Yeah, I think I’m a lot more prepared for the next level than I was this time last year,” Prescott said. “I’m excited and glad I made that decision.
“(I’ve improved on) everything from the position of a quarterback: footwork, staying balanced, making all the throws.”
The decision to come back will probably help Prescott when the National Football League Draft is held in April. Prescott’s final game as a Bulldog could have been a 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech in last year’s Orange Bowl, but the Bulldogs have a chance to send Prescott out a winner.
MSU (8-4) plays North Carolina State (7-5) at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) today in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Prescott can only add to a prestigious legacy that has already been set. He has broken 38 school records (15 career, 15 single-season and eight single-game) during his four-year career at MSU. He led the Bulldogs to nine-straight victories to begin last season and a No. 1 ranking for five-straight weeks.
Mullen, who believes Prescott has a lot of potential at the next level, believes his work ethic and attitude is what separates him from other great football players he has coached.
“They’re constantly working to help the team be better, themselves be better and better in everything that they do,” Mullen said. “You see those guys have a lot of success. They’re great leaders and great role models for other people as you move forward.”
For his career, Prescott has passed for 8,996 yards and 66 touchdowns and rushed for 2,474 yards and 41 touchdowns. He will likely add to all of those totals against the Wolfpack.
MSU defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has been on seven different staffs and has seen some great college quarterbacks. One is Philip Rivers, who played at NC State and is currently playing for the San Diego Chargers. Although Diaz didn’t compare Prescott to Rivers, he said he sees some similarities.
As for what Diaz sees in Prescott, he knows tough players like him will always be needed to lead NFL football teams.
“We always say the offense takes on the personality of its quarterback, and when you have a guy like Dak, it’s very rare to have a guy that’s got that mentality that attacks everything we do,” Diaz said. “It really sets the tone for everybody else to fall in line. When your best player is the hardest worker on your team, everybody else has to kind of fall into place.”
Although he wasn’t a captain as a junior, Prescott has been the leader of the team for the last two seasons. He is a captain this season and all his teammates look to him to lead them in tough situations. He showed that when MSU fell behind Louisiana Tech 14-0 early and trailed Arkansas by 11 points in the second half. MSU ended up winning both of those games and Prescott was the biggest reason.
MSU safeties coach/recruiting coordinator Tony Hughes, who has taken the head coaching job at Jackson State, believes Prescott is a natural leader.
“Dak has what I call the ‘it’ factor,” Hughes said. “He has a charismatic personality, different than other people ever. He’s just born with a gift that’s different and there’s few people that have them. Some great quarterbacks, some great players have that factor and he’s just one that you run across once in a lifetime.”
This won’t be Prescott’s final football game, but it will be his final game as a Bulldog. He said he doesn’t know the emotions he will experience when he walks off the field in his Bulldog uniform for the last time this evening.
“I don’t know if I’ll think about it come gameday,” Prescott said. “It will probably be a week after that, maybe when it’s time for them to report back to school and I don’t have to report back to school. I don’t expect it to hit me right away.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
BELK BOWL CAPSULE
■ North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4), today, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Mississippi State by 7
Series Record: North Carolina State leads 3-2
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Mississippi State hopes to send senior QB Dak Prescott out a winner in his final game. Prescott is looking to end his career on a positive note after a 38-27 loss to rival Ole Miss in the regular season finale on Nov. 28. N.C. State looks for its best win of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
North Carolina State QB Jacoby Brissett vs. Mississippi State defense. Brissett has thrown for 2,448 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions this year. He has the ability to improvise and keep plays alive with his feet. If he gets hot early, the Wolfpack has a shot at the upset.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Carolina State: TE/RB Jaylen Samuels. He lines up at both spots. The versatile Samuels leads the Wolfpack with seven touchdown catches and has also run for 315 yards and seven TDs. He is averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
Mississippi State: QB Dak Prescott. Dangerous with his legs and his arm, he does it all, throwing for 3,413 yards and 25 touchdowns this season while rushing for 541 yards and a team-high 10 TDs.
FACTS & FIGURES
North Carolina State’s scoring defense improved from 13th (27 ppg.) in the ACC last season to fifth (23.8 ppg) this year. … The Wolfpack has forced 14 turnovers in the last four games. … Wolfpack is averaging 201.4 yards rushing per game. … Mississippi State WR Fred Ross led all Power 5 Conferences with 41 catches in November. Ross has at least 100 yards receiving in the past four games. … In all, 23 freshman have played for the Bulldogs. … Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 96-34 in the fourth quarter this season.
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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