Ad Disclosure
Dak Prescott is the top Heisman candidate in the SEC, leading a dream season for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. As well as he’s been playing — he set a career high in passing yards last weekend — there’s a problem that could come back to bite the Bulldogs: Prescott has gotten to be interception prone.
After a sterling start to the season, Prescott has been sloppy with the ball over the last month. He threw just two interceptions in Mississippi State’s first five games, and has now thrown five in the last three. Prescott’s mistakes have come from a variety of problems, from simple bad throws to missed reads to getting hit while releasing.
Prescott’s pick against Arkansas was a combination of them, as he had a defender bearing down on him and badly underthrew a receiver in double coverage. On one of his interceptions against Auburn, he threw behind a receiver in the end zone. Against Kentucky, he lofted up a duck as he was hit by a defensive lineman. Dan Mullen has said he’s not worried about the mistakes, as they’re not from any one recurring mistake, but they’re mistakes nonetheless.
Mississippi State has the good fortune of a tuneup game this late in the season when they take on FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin this weekend, and it’s an opportunity for Prescott to play a clean game. UT-Martin is not exactly a stout defensive team, allowing nearly 400 yards and 28 points per game, but they average two sacks and just under and interception per game.
While Alabama and Ole Miss certainly present much more serious opposition for the Bulldogs than the Skyhawks, this weekend presents a good time for Prescott to begin eliminating the mistakes that could doom Mississippi State during the home stretch of the season.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
