Published August 7, 2012 - 10:15am
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MSU redshirt freshman quarterback Dak Prescott is practicing as if he will be the starter in game one. But he won’t start, because the program now belongs to Tyler Russell.
“I’m not going to be complacent with myself,” Prescott said. “I’m going to push … Tyler and make sure he gets better.”
We know what Russell excels at – he has a big arm and a pocket presence. He played in a spread offense in high school, but let’s be real – he won’t run the ball as many times as Chris Relf has over the last few years. His body is not ready or made for that kind of punishment.
At 6-2, 230-pounds, Prescott looks like he can physically take the infliction needed to be a power runner.
Mullen confirmed this week that there is a package for Prescott to be inserted into the lineup, but he says it’s more just to get Prescott’s feet wet in case something happens to Russell.
“You never know,” Mullen said. “Tyler could trip out of the slide coming out of the shower today. As crazy as it is, those injuries occur. So, there’s the chance that that happens, and he always has to keep that mindset. I think it helps him knowing going in that he’s not taking a backup mindset. He’s taking a mindset of ‘I’m gonna get some playing time.’”
Prescott threw for 2,860 yards and 39 touchdowns, while rushing for 951 yards and 17 touchdowns his senior season.
I can see a similar role for Prescott as to how Tim Tebow was used during his freshman year. Then quarterback Chris Leak threw for 2,900 yards, and Tebow came in as a rushing specialist in certain packages as a power running back. Tebow rushed 89 times for 469 yards and eight touchdowns in 2006.
Seeing that Relf and Vick Ballard – the two primary ball carriers – are now gone, MSU is going to need someone to run between the tackles and take the pounding. And there are still questions as to whether LaDarius Perkins can be that guy. Perkins likes to turn the corner more and use his speed as opposed to running between the tackles.
Prescott has the potential to be a big part of the rushing offense this season.
