In five days, one of the Mississippi State football team’s most anticipated seasons in recent history will begin with a home game against Southern Mississippi.
Returning 18 starters, including a quarterback and two defensive players who have garnered plenty of national attention, expectations are high in Starkville. If that potential is reached, either on an individual basis in quarterback Dak Prescott’s case, or by the team itself, a number of season and career records could fall at MSU. Here are three:
1. Career touchdowns
Current record holder:
Don Smith, QB, 1983-86, 52 touchdowns
Biggest threat: Prescott
Entering his junior season, Prescott is well ahead of Smith’s four-year scoring pace. The Haughton, Louisiana native has scored 31 times, just 21 short of Smith’s mark. Considering Prescott started seven games last season and still scored 25 times, Smith’s record could be in serious jeopardy. Just a junior, Prescott also has two years to do it.
2. Career completion
percentage
Current record holder:
(Tie) Dak Prescott,
Tyson Lee, .588
Prescott shares this record with Tyson Lee, who completed 283 of 481 passes in his two-year career. If Prescott improves his completion percentage even a little, he will own the record outright.
3. Career 100-yard
receiving games
Current record holder:
David Smith, WR,
1968-70, 8
Biggest threat:
WR Jameon Lewis
Prior to his junior season, it looked like Lewis had no shot at this career record. But the former Tylertown High quarterback exploded in 2013, posting career highs in catches (64), yards (923) and touchdowns (five). He also produced three 100-yard receiving outbursts, punctuated by a nine-catch, 220-yard gem against Conference USA champion Rice in the Liberty Bowl.
If his timing with Prescott continues to improve the way it did near the end of 2013, five 100-yard games, which is what Lewis needs to tie the record, isn’t out of the question.
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