Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with Dallas. He was originally expected to be the backup for Tony Romo until Romo’s preseason injury pushed Prescott into the starting role in his rookie year.
Prescott is preparing for his eighth Thanksgiving game at AT&T Stadium, which marks his tenth season with the Cowboys. He missed Thanksgiving in 2020 and 2024 due to injuries.
Dak Prescott’s College Football Career
Prescott played his four seasons at Mississippi State from 2011-2015, redshirting his first year. In his redshirt freshman season, he proved himself and became the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback in 2013. Once he earned the job, he quickly became one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks.
Prescott earned All-American honors and was named First-Team All-SEC in 2014 and 2015, among other prestigious awards. His breakout year was in 2014, when he led Mississippi State to the No. 1 ranking in the nation for the first time in school history on Oct. 12. The Bulldogs held that ranking for three weeks. Prescott finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
He followed up even stronger in the 2015 season, solidifying himself as an NFL prospect and ultimately becoming a fourth-round pick by the Cowboys. He finished his collegiate career with 70 touchdown passes and 40 rushing touchdowns.
How Did Mississippi State Land Prescott?
Prescott grew up in Sulphur, Louisiana, and attended Haughton High School in Haughton, Louisiana. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school. Mississippi State offered him early, and Prescott committed and stayed with the program for his full collegiate career.
Prescott’s strong play in college prepared him to step into the Dallas lineup immediately. As a rookie in 2016, he threw for 3,667 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding six rushing touchdowns, and led Dallas to the postseason.
His NFL journey has included adversity. Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in 2020, ending his season early, and a hamstring injury on Nov. 3 of last season cut that year short.
This season, he has thrown for 2,941 yards and 23 touchdowns, adding two rushing touchdowns. According to PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics, Prescott is ranked No. 7, has a QB Impact Score of 84.1, and grades out to a B.
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By being a three-year starter at an SEC university, he was prepared to enter the NFL and start his first year. He has proven he has a strong arm and dual-threat talent, along with the leadership needed to guide a team to the postseason, which he hopes to do this year.
Prescott helped the Cowboys pick up a crucial NFC East win over the Eagles last Sunday. With Dallas at 5-5-1, Prescott and the Cowboys look to carry that momentum into Thursday’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.