STARKVILLE — The most telling part of Dak Prescott’s press conference Wednesday, the one that saw the Mississippi State quarterback announce he would return to school for his senior season, was where he went when it was over.
After making his announcement and answering questions from reporters, Prescott ducked out of the media room at MSU’s Seal Football Complex and headed downstairs to a team meeting.
His focus already was on getting ready for the 2015 season.
“I think we have a better team coming back next year than we did this year,” Prescott said. “We have a lot of talented guys. We have a great freshman class coming in and some big-time playmakers that can come in and have an impact on the team. We just have to get on the same page and make sure everybody comes together. I think it can be a special year.”
So what does Prescott’s return mean for a MSU team coming off its first 10-win regular season in school history?
Plenty.
In Prescott, MSU keeps the school’s all-time leader in touchdowns. In three seasons, Prescott (71 touchdowns) obliterated the old mark of 52 set by former quarterback Don Smith. He also set a dozen individual school records this season, including marks for touchdown passes (27), completion percentage (.616), and rushing yards by a quarterback (986). So overwhelming was Prescott’s assault on MSU’s record books that no MSU quarterback had accounted for 3,000 yards in a season. Prescott had 4,435.
Prescott’s breakout season also helped him lead the team to the top of the national polls, a spot MSU occupied for five weeks after he engineered a 38-23 win against then-No. 2 Auburn on Oct. 11. With that performance, Prescott vaulted himself into the race for the Heisman Trophy, which honors college football’s best player. He finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, the highest mark for a Bulldog.
Prescott led the Southeastern Conference and ranked sixth nationally in total offense. A first-team All-SEC selection, he also was a finalist for the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, Manning, and Unitas awards.
Prescott will try to build on those accomplishments when MSU opens its season Sept. 5 at Southern Mississippi.
The opportunity to work another year with Prescott is exciting for members of MSU’s coaching staff.
“I think with another year of experience, with more reps, I think you continue to get more comfortable,” MSU quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson said. “I think with him coming back the game will slow down even more for him. That will help his anticipation, help his feet and, just become generally a better player by accumulating those reps.
“I think he’s made tremendous strides, and (I am ) looking forward to making another jump next year.”
Prescott will lead an offense that should be MSU’s strength in 2015. This season, the Bulldogs leading the SEC in total yards and finished No. 2 in points scored. The bulk of that production came from Prescott. In his first year as the full-time starter, Prescott threw for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns. He had a season-high 453 yards and three touchdown passes in a 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns, which was No. 2 in the SEC.
MSU coach Dan Mullen expects Prescott, who will be a fifth-year senior, to provide an added level of leadership.
“He has the opportunity to do some special things,” Mullen said. “I think his maturity and how he handled it showed how he’s gotten to where he is now and the type of future he’s going to have.”
Prescott will be one of four returning starters on offense. MSU has three starters returning on defense. That total (seven) represents the lowest number in the SEC. But with receivers like De’Runnya Wilson (47 catches, 680 yards, nine touchdowns — all team highs) and Fred Ross (30 catches, 489 yards, five touchdowns) returning, Prescott will have a chance to replicate the offense’s productivity.
“We have a great team coming back,” said Prescott, who led MSU to its first No. 1 ranking in program history. “I think we can be better. We don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. We want to be a team that competes year in and year out. We expect to get back to No. 1. Those are our expectations, and I think with the team, with the leadership, and with the coaches, I think we have the ability to do that.
“We didn’t finish the way we wanted. I think it had a big part in my decision, going 1-3 in the last four games. I wouldn’t want to finish a career at such a great place and leave on a note like that.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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