Mississippi State's Spring: Dak Prescott a passing QB
The expectations for Mississippi State in 2014 are high. They're even higher for Dak Prescott.
The quarterback deferred questions regarding his candidacy for this year's Heisman Trophy. His performance in this year's Maroon/White game will only bolster those whispers.
Prescott completed 7 of 9 attempts for 131 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball three times for 12 yards with a score.
"I just pay attention to what happens on this campus and what happens in our football facility," Prescott said. "I just go in each day and try to get better."
Prescott returns for his junior season as the Southeastern Conference's active leader in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 17. He's second in rushing yards with 947. Only Auburn's Nick Marshall has more at 1,023.
But Prescott's spring revolved around passing. MSU coach Dan Mullen brought in new quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson. The former Utah quarterback possessed the same skills at Prescott. In 2009 Johnson earned the Sugar Bowl MVP after leading the Utes to a win against Alabama.
Under Johnson's tutelage, Prescott hopes to lose the stigma of being a run-first quarterback.
"I'm a quarterback that can run," Prescott said. "And I can get out of bad situations."
The numbers bolster Prescott's statement. His 58.8 completion percentage is tied for the highest mark in program history with Tyson Lee. But his actions in Mississippi State's second scrimmage said otherwise.
Prescott finished 13 of 31 passing. At one point he completed 9 of 13, but ended the scrimmage 1 of 10.
The statistics are a little misleading though. At certain point the coaching staff took away some of Prescott's best weapons – his legs.
They wanted to put Prescott in adverse situations to see how the quarterback handled himself. Prescott enters his fourth year in the program. By now he's an expert on the playbook. To continue his growth he was forced to rely on his arm without being able to escape bad situations.
"I'm just a lot more comfortable. There's not too much thinking about what's going on," Prescott said. "It's more just going out there and making what's going to happen. Putting it in my hands and changing the things I want to change."
As Prescott developed into the team's starter last year, Wilson posted the best numbers by a freshman wide receiver since 2009. Prescott and Wilson focused on developing their chemistry even more this spring. They only way to do that is reps.
Mission accomplished.
"On my routes, coming out of my breaks when the ball is going to be there, he puts it there," Wilson said. "By the time I turn my head around the ball's going to be there."