Prescott Named 2015 Senior Class Award Winner for NCAA FBS Football

December 29, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State All-American quarterback Dak Prescott was named the 2015 Senior CLASS Award^® winner for the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Premier Sports Management announced Tuesday morning. The award, which is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I football, is the second individual national award for an MSU player in the 116-year history of the program (Johnthan Banks, 2012 Jim Thorpe Award).

“I tried—to the best of my ability—to represent our football team in a first-class manner in everything I did, and I am thankful for receiving the Senior CLASS Award^® because it embodies more than just on-field performance,” said Prescott. “I have always taken pride in being active in our community my entire career. There is a special relationship with Starkville and our football team, and I feel my teammates and I have played an important role in shaping that. I accept this honor on behalf of my teammates and our coaches, especially head coach Dan Mullen. He gave me a chance to come to Mississippi State. That opportunity gave me a chance to earn two academic degrees, develop as a player both on and off the field, create an expectation of winning for our program and live out the greatest years of my life.”

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Prescott was voted the winner via a nationwide vote of Division I FBS football coaches, national football media and fans. The senior was eligible for the award thanks to notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

“Class is something that has epitomized Dak Prescott’s entire career,” said Mullen, who coached the last SEC player to earn the honor in Tim Tebow (2007). “He has been a tremendous ambassador for our university and football team, and I am proud of him capturing the Senior CLASS Award^®. Whether it was his work in the community or his leadership on the field, Dak has raised the standard of excellence at Mississippi State. He will leave Starkville with an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree and a lifetime of memories.”

The 12th Southeastern Conference player to win the award, Prescott owns 38 school records and is one of four players in FBS history to pass for 60 touchdowns and rush for 40 touchdowns in a career. The Haughton, Louisiana, native is the fourth player in SEC history to account for 110 career touchdowns and the fifth player in the history of the league to record 11,000 career yards of total offense. The team captain has led MSU to a bowl game in every season under center and last fall helped give the Bulldogs their first No. 1 ranking in school history.

“Dak represents everything that is good about college athletics, and is incredibly deserving of this honor,” MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. “Words can’t adequately describe what he means to Mississippi State and our athletic department.”

Off the field, the All-SEC performer has received two degrees: an undergraduate degree in educational psychology last year and a master’s degree in workforce leadership earlier this month. Off campus, the two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member has invested dozens of hours of his free time speaking to local children, visiting hospitals and working several youth football camps.

“Dak Prescott has meant so much to Mississippi State in ways that transcend sports,” MSU President Mark Keenum said. “Dak epitomizes the meaning of the term ‘student-athlete.’ During his five years at MSU, he has earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Dak’s work ethic, dedication, and generosity of spirit are the things that brought so many Bulldogs together during these last few remarkable years. This dynamic young man will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone in the Bulldog family. ‘Class’ is indeed the word I think of when I think about Dak.”

Prescott dons the maroon and white one last time Wednesday, Dec. 30, as he battles NC State in the Belk Bowl. The 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, will be televised live on ESPN.