STARKVILLE — Dak Prescott could have gone to LSU.
The Haughton, Louisiana, native grew up around people who were big LSU fans, including his late mother, Peggy. But Mississippi State offered Prescott a scholarship early in the recruiting process and he committed to the Bulldogs. LSU offered him late, but he decided to stick with his commitment.
Five years later, he’s happy he did.
“In the past few years here, we’ve been able to transform the expectations around Mississippi State,” Prescott wrote in a letter to MSU fans published by Sports Illustrated. “And while people have given me credit for helping change the football culture, what they don’t understand is how appreciative I am of my teammates, my coaches, the university, and the city of Starkville for the role they’ve played in changing me.”
Prescott’s record-setting career is nearing an end. The last chapter at home will be written at 6:15 p.m. Saturday when Prescott and 14 other seniors lead No. 23 MSU (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) against No. 19 Ole Miss (8-3, 5-2) in the Battle for the Golden Egg at Davis Wade Stadium.
Along with Prescott, the Bulldogs will honor kicker Devon Bell, defensive end Ryan Brown, cornerback Taveze Calhoun, offensive lineman Cole Carter (a junior from Caledonia), long snapper Winston Chapman, tight end Darrion Hutcherson, linebacker Zach Jackson, offensive lineman Justin Malone, cornerback Kendrick Market, wide receiver Joe Morrow, offensive lineman Nick Proby, cornerback Will Redmond, offensive lineman Damien Robinson, and offensive lineman Rufus Warren before the game.
Prescott always will be remembered by Bulldog fans. With two games remaining in his college career, Prescott has broken 38 school records (15 career, 15 single-season, and eight single-game) and has been a part of some of the program’s most successful teams. Last season, MSU won 10 games last season and was ranked No. 1 for five-straight weeks.
But MSU coach Dan Mullen always will remember the group because he said it has changed the perception of the program nationally and raised the expectation level in the program and of the fans.
The senior class is 33-14, the second-best senior class in school history, and best since the 1942 squad (34-5-2). The seniors will go to a bowl game every year of their careers, have produced a 22-5 record at home, been ranked for 29 weeks, and shattered 46 of the program’s single-season and career records.
Calhoun hopes the legacy his class leaves behind is a good one.
“When we first got here the spotlight on the university wasn’t as much,” Calhoun said. “Now that we are leaving it is always in the national spotlight and we were No. 1 in the country and going to a bowl game every year. We left it all out for the university and put all our chips in for the university so it could get the recognition it needed.”
Prescott and Calhoun already have received undergraduate degrees and are working on completing master’s degrees.
Prescott came in with the 2011 recruiting class, but he redshirted. The group will leave MSU with has grown into a brotherhood.
“We’re a bunch of guys who do the right thing,” Prescott said. “We’ll be tight and be friends for a long time.”
Although the seniors have had a lot of success, they don’t want to leave without bringing the Egg Bowl trophy back to Starkville. Prescott said one of the main reasons he returned for his senior year was MSU lost to Ole Miss 31-17 last season.
A win Saturday make the MSU seniors the favorite class of all time.
“It would mean a lot with my last game at Davis Wade, going out a winner, and being able to celebrate with our fans on the field with the trophy,” Calhoun said. “That is the only goal we are focused on for this week.”
Calhoun has appeared in 48 games (34 starts) and has 158 tackles (11 for loss), three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 20 pass breakups, and six interceptions.
Calhoun won’t be surprised if Prescott gets the loudest cheer Saturday when he is recognized as a senior.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a special video or something,” Calhoun said. “There wouldn’t be any jealousy toward him. He deserves it. He has definitely been a leader ever since he’s been here and since I’ve known him. He is a great competitor, and he took this program under his wing. We follow him, and nobody can deny that.
“I hope he gets a video, a standing ovation, and those cowbells ringing for five minutes. He deserves it, and I will be happy for him just as if it was for me.”
Prescott has thrown for 8,742 yards and 64 touchdowns and rushed for 2,411 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Prescott said some of his fondest memories of playing for MSU are the 2014 LSU game, when he helped the Bulldogs win in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the first time since 1991, leading a fourth quarter and overtime comeback in the 2013 Egg Bowl, and beating Auburn last year to become the No. 1 team in the country.
After the Egg Bowl, Prescott will have a bowl game to play in, but Starkville always will be a special place.
“When I chose Mississippi State, of course I dreamed about being a big-time college football player,” he wrote in the letter to fans. “But I’m so grateful that actually became a reality — and it became a reality in a small town. All I can really say is thank you to everyone for making Starkville feel like it’s my home.”
n MSU moved back into the College Football Playoff poll at No. 21 after its 51-50 victory against Arkansas on Saturday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
A 31-6 loss to Alabama two weeks ago in Starkville had knocked MSU out of the poll.
Ole Miss moved from No. 22 to No. 18.
Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Iowa are the top four teams. Florida is No. 12.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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