STARKVILLE — For the first time in 28 years, the Southeastern Conference first-team All-Conference quarterback hails from Mississippi State.
Junior quarterback Dak Prescott, who led the SEC with 38 touchdowns this season and helped the Bulldog earn the first 10-win regular season in school history, was named The Associated Press first-team All-SEC quarterback Monday. He is MSU’s first quarterback to receive the honor since Don Smith in 1986.
“When you look at what a guy’s done and his value to the team, he deserves any awards that come his way,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said of Prescott. “It speaks volumes of the type of year he has had and what he’s been able to do.”
Prescott earned the nod by passing for 2,996 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushing for 939 yards and 13 scores.
He was named the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week three times, and he led MSU to six conference wins for the first time in 15 years. The Haughton, Louisiana, native also is a finalist for several national awards, including the Maxwell Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top offensive player, and the Davey O’Brien Award, which is given to the country’s top quarterback.
Joining Prescott on the first team was senior offensive lineman Ben Beckwith. Beckwith, a three-time winner of the SEC’s Offensive Lineman of the Week award, also was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top former walk-on. Beckwith was a member of an offensive line that paved the way for the Bulldogs to finish in the top 20 nationally in total yards per game (506), scoring offense (37.2 points per game), and rushing yards (239.8 yards per game).
The Bulldogs also had three players named to the second team, including tailback Josh Robinson, who rushed for a team-high 1,128 yards and 11 scores. Robinson finished the season third in the SEC in rushing yards. He also had 28 catches for 370 yards and a touchdown. Robinson is the fourth MSU back in Mullen’s six years to earn an All-SEC selection.
Also earning second-team recognition was linebacker Benardrick McKinney, who led MSU with 61 tackles, and defensive end Preston Smith, a senior who led MSU in sacks (nine) and finished third in the conference with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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