CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dak Prescott only added to his legacy.
In Mississippi State’s 51-28 win over North Carolina State Wednesday in the Belk Bowl in Bank of America Stadium, the senior quarterback was sent out a winner.
“I’ve got high expectations for myself, so I’m not going to say it’s something I’ve never thought of, wanted to do or think that could happen,” Prescott said of his legacy. “For all of it to come true and to be so surreal, it’s very humbling.”
Prescott completed 25 of 42 passes for a Belk Bowl record 380 yards and tied the Belk Bowl record with four touchdowns. He rushed for 47 yards to give him a Belk Bowl record 427 yards of total offense. He was named Most Valuable Player for the bowl game.
He will be remembered as one of the best players to ever play for the Bulldogs with everything he has done on and off the field.
The owner of 38 school records (15 career, 15 single-season and eight single-game), Prescott broke two that he set last year. The four passing touchdowns give him 29 this season and the 380 passing yards give him 3,793 this season — both single-season school records.
He became just the 17th Southeastern Conference player to throw for at least 9,000 yards in a career (9,376 yards). He became just the fourth FBS player to pass for more than 9,000 yards and rush for more than 2,500 yards (2,521) in a career.
In four bowl games, he had 1,308 yards of total offense and two victories.
“I don’t think there are words to really describe what he’s done for this program,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “I think he’s taken the university and the football program and changed the way people think about them.
“I’ve coached a lot of good players and he could very easily be the best guy I’ve ever coached. He’s a special, special football player.”
Ross eclipses 1,000 yards
Junior wideout Fred Ross became just the second player in school history to finish with more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
He caught seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown in the win and finishes with 1,007 yards for the year. Mardye McDole had 1,035 yards during the 1978 season.
“It’s a great honor,” Ross said. “I thank my teammates, the coaches and Dak. Without those guys none of that would have happened. I’m just blessed.”
Ross finishes with a school-record 88 receptions (tied for seventh in Southeastern Conference history).
Clayborn sidelined
Junior center Jamaal Clayborn (right foot/ankle) did not play.
He suffered the injury Saturday early in practice and wasn’t able to go. Senior Justin Malone made the move from left guard to center. Junior Devon Desper moved from right guard to left guard and redshirt freshman Deion Calhoun drew his first-ever start at right guard.
The offensive line, who allowed 18 sacks in the final three regular season games, only allowed one sack against the Wolfpack.
“I think the offensive line played great,” Malone said. “The fact that we gave up 18 sacks in three games, we hated it. It kind of sat in our stomachs for a month and we hated it. We went out there and we changed it.”
Malone recovered a Prescott fumble in the end zone for his only career touchdown.
Redshirt freshman Gerri Green started at linebacker for Zach Jackson, who left the team before the Egg Bowl. Sophomore J.T. Gray was listed as the starter on the depth chart, but both played. Gray finished with nine tackles (one for loss), while Green had five tackles and an interception.
Junior Johnthan Calvin got his first-career start at defensive end for the Ryan Brown. He got the pressure on NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett that led to Green’s interception on the first play of scrimmage. Calvin finished with one tackle and two pass breakups.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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