Here are five takeaways from Mississippi State’s Week 3 win over South Alabama:

  • Dak Prescott is a legitimate Heisman contender: Prescott appears to be the SEC’s most versatile dual-threat quarterback, and his stellar play in 2014 has helped Mississippi State score 131 points through three weeks, an average of just under 43 points per contest. He has thrown for 200 yards and rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back weeks, and he is on pace to throw for more than 2,700 yards and rush for close to 1,100 yards by the end of the season. He threw for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass in the same game for the second time in his career in the win over South Alabama, and he’s had no trouble spreading the ball around to more than a dozen different receivers so far this season. If Prescott can continue to look sharp in all areas of the game, he could keep Mississippi State competitive in a loaded SEC West.
  • Preston Smith has been the SEC’s most impactful defensive lineman: No player in the SEC has made a greater impact on the defensive side of the ball through three weeks than Smith, who has two interceptions, two blocked kicks and a touchdown in three games this season. He has a great chance at earning the SEC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week honor for a third straight week, and he helped Mississippi State limit South Alabama to fewer than 60 yards rushing on Saturday (we’ll get to that in a bit). The Bulldogs are deep on defense, especially along the defensive line, but Smith has been the biggest playmaker among those linemen this season. If Smith continues to make game-changing plays on such a regular basis, he’ll be a lock to earn first team All-SEC honors at the end of the year.
  • Jameon Lewis is still a big part of the Bulldogs’ offense: Lewis has had a difficult start to his senior season, posting back-to-back lackluster performances to start the year amid the tragedy of his brother’s passing. He finally emerged as Mississippi State’s top receiver on Saturday, catching six passes for 76 yards while executing his first trick play of the year on the touchdown pass to Prescott. It is difficult to imagine what Lewis has gone through the last few weeks, but his performance against the Jaguars was a promising sign that he can still be a dynamic playmaker in the Bulldogs’ offense. Mississippi State has plenty of capable receivers, but none are as explosive or as versatile as Lewis. With the senior back in the mix, Prescott and the rest of the offense have a chance to hit another gear as they enter the meat of the SEC schedule.
  • Mississippi State’s front seven is as nasty as they come: South Alabama is not the toughest opponent Mississippi State will face this season, but the Bulldogs’ front seven feasted on the Jaguars’ offense in Saturday’s rout. Mississippi State registered 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while holding USA to just 57 yards rushing. The Bulldogs have NFL talent in their starting front seven in the form of defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Benardrick McKinney, but more impressive than the top-end talent is the impeccable depth head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Geoff Collins have cultivated up front. Mississippi State constantly rotates bodies on and off the field, and it is almost always fresh up front even as opposing offenses begin to wear down. Not many teams can maintain freshness and talent at the same time, but Mississippi State’s front seven can, making it one of the most dangerous position groups in the entire conference.
  • It appears Dan Mullen as settled on a place kicker: Mississippi State did not attempt a field goal for a second straight week, but it did drill all five of its extra points after missing two in last week’s win over UAB. More importantly, just one kicker, Evan Sobiesk, attempted all five kicks, hinting he has won the job outright. It remains to be seen whether Sobiesk can keep the job when called upon in field goal situations against SEC opponents, but for now it appears Mullen has seen enough out of him to have confidence in his leg. The kicking game seems trivial until a field goal is the deciding play of an SEC West showdown, and if and when that circumstance arises it is good to know Mullen has confidence in one man to come through for his team. The job appears to be Sobiesk’s to lose, and MSU fans hope he never loses it.