Mississippi State QB Prescott wins Conerly Trophy

Posted December 01, 2015 6:00 am

By DAVID BRANDT

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott holds the Conerly Trophy awarded to Mississippi's top college football player Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 in Jackson, Miss. The award is named after former NFL and Mississippi quarterback Charlie Conerly. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi State's Dak Prescott has joined Eli Manning in Conerly Trophy lore.

Prescott won the Conerly on Tuesday night, becoming just the second two-time winner of the award and the only player to win it in two consecutive seasons. He ties Manning, who won in 2001 and '03 for Ole Miss.

This was the 20th year for the Conerly Trophy, an award sponsored by C Spire Wireless that is given to the state's top college football player.

A Mississippi State player has won the award in five of the past seven seasons.

"To be put in the same category as Eli Manning, the only two to win this award twice, that's pretty special," Prescott said. "It's very humbling and I'm just thankful."

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Prescott completed nearly 67 percent of his passes, while throwing for 3,413 yards, 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also ran for a team-high 541 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Prescott, from Haughton, Louisiana, beat out a pool of nine other players for the award. The three finalists were Prescott, Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell and Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens.

It was a talented group. Treadwell caught 76 passes for 1,082 yards and eight touchdowns this season while Mullens threw for 3,964 yards and 35 touchdowns for the resurgent Golden Eagles.

"I didn't necessarily expect to win it as much this time as I did last time," Prescott said.

Prescott not only had a great year statistically, he's also carved out a niche as one of the most beloved players in Mississippi State history. He was the face of the program when the Bulldogs were the No. 1 ranked team in the country for five weeks during the 2014 season and he fought through the adversity of losing his mother to cancer during the 2013 season.

Dozens of fans waited for his autograph after the ceremony and the 22-year-old signed every one. Prescott says Mississippi has turned into a second home for him over the past five years.

"I've still got a place for Louisiana in my heart, but the people and hospitality here make everything great."

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen speaks to the media about quarterback Dak Prescott being awarded the Conerly Trophy at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Prescott is the second two-time winner of the award, which is given to the state's top college football player. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, right, is awarded the Conerly Trophy by Hu Meena, president and CEO of C Spire Wireless, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 in Jackson, Miss. Prescott is the second two-time winner of the award, which is given to the state's top college football player. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Associated Press

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