MSU-La. Tech matchup pits former teammates

STARKVILLE -- Dak Prescott exchanged text messages with two Louisiana Tech players earlier this week.

Mississippi State’s quarterback began the chat asking if Marlon Seets and Jarred Craft were prepared for their trip to Davis Wade Stadium.

“They’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s  a big game for us. The question is are you ready?’” Prescott said. “’It’s football in my stadium. You think I’m ready?’”

Seets and Prescott played in the same backfield at Haughton High School and remain best friends. Craft is the younger brother of Jordan, who also attended Haughton and is one of Prescott’s closest friends.

“It’s all fun. Those are good guys. It’s all competition,” Prescott said. “They’re on the other side of the ball, so it’s nothing like they have to tackle me. I just wish them the best, and they wish me the same.”

Javonte Woodard will be the fourth Haughton representative on the field Saturday.  The true freshman didn’t play with Prescott, but is another connection of many Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State share.

“Pretty much if you go to my high school, you go to La. Tech. It’s almost an extension,” Prescott said. “A lot of alumni or people who go there are friends of mine. It’s fun and exciting. There should be a ton of people from my hometown that will be there.”

La. Tech has 11 players from Mississippi on its roster. Seven players from Louisiana are on Mississippi State’s roster.

Vernon Butler is a Mississippian playing for Louisiana Tech. He helped A.J. Jefferson anchor a defensive line at Summit High School. Jefferson leads MSU with 10.5 tackles for loss. Butler is tied for the team lead with two sacks on Tech.

“I remember on signing day he told me, ‘We’re going to play against each other,’” Jefferson said. “It’s kind of been going back and forth since then. I think it’s going to be fun. I’m excited.”

MSU defensive end Ryan Brown grew up in New Orleans. His high school teammate originally signed with Tech, but transferred. Brown had no other connection with the school until 2013 when Skip Holtz became the program’s new coach.

Holtz recruited Brown while he was at South Florida.

“I know their coaching staff pretty well,” Brown said. “It’s something we’re looking forward to this week.”

The connection between the coaches is even deeper. Manny Diaz is in his first year as MSU’s defensive coordinator. He held the same position at Louisiana Tech last year.

Each staff downplayed the connections all week. MSU coach Dan Mullen and Holtz said the outcome will be decided by the players’ performances.

The connections are a bit more difficult for those on the field to ignore.

“It’s going to amp up, especially this week,” Brown said. “A lot of stuff is going on this week. We’re playing a better team a game-ready type of team that’s ready to shake up the SEC.”

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.