How Can Dak Prescott Win the Heisman Trophy in 2015/2016

The Heisman Trophy, the pinnacle of a college football player’s career. If a player is voted as worthy to receive the bronze statue which is 13.5 inches tall and weighs 25 pounds, then he joins an elite group of players in lifetime fame. He joins the ranks of Archie Griffin, O.J. Simpson, Steve Spurrier, Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson, and the like. Let’s be honest here, who as a kid didn’t dream of hearing your name, then have added onto the end “Heisman Trophy Winner”? I know I certainly did, so the lore and majesty of the award is something that is instilled at a young age.

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So what will it take for Senior QB Dak Prescott to win the Heisman Trophy this season? Simply put, beat last season. People already know he can run, and people know that he has a special quality that lifts the team around him. But the question marks of his passing strength and accuracy have been question since last season. In order to bring back the excitement in his Heisman Trophy campaign, Prescott will need to be more accurate with his passes, and not throw as many interceptions as he did last year. Also, that internal clock in his mind needs to be going off a bit faster than last year. Too many times did we see Prescott drop back and hold onto the ball just a second too long for a sack.

Something else that Dak will have to do is lead the Bulldog squad to a 10-win regular season. Luckily for the Bulldogs, our toughest games will be at home (Week 2 vs LSU, Week 11 vs Alabama, and Week 13 vs Ole Miss). That means that if the Bulldog faithful are just as loud, if not louder, as last season then we should have a very real chance to provide the toughest home-field advantage. That means Prescott should have a bit easier environment to bring us to a 10-win regular season.

Nov 22, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) passes the ball during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Within those 10 wins that we should have in the regular season, Prescott needs his “Heisman moment” in which he provides the nation one single highlight to wow and awe the sportswriters with. Last year, his “Heisman moment” was probably the LSU game and the way he came out at full strength to defeat the LSU Tigers in Death Valley. This season, however, Dak will need to pull another magic trick out of his hat to provide that “Heisman moment”. Could it be against Alabama in Week 11? That would certainly put a statement on his campaign.

To really wrap it all up, Dak will have to stay out of trouble off the field. Following this offseason, some have started to question Prescott’s off the field demeanor in light of the incident in Panama City Beach, FL on Spring Break. Now it wasn’t his fault that he was involved in this incident, but with the recent string of Heisman Trophies being associated with players who have bad reputations off the field, the Heisman Trust will be taking a closer look at off the field character. Now before you start writing your comments about how the off the field stuff shouldn’t matter, just keep in mind that the Heisman winners have gone a little haywire off the field (save Mariota and RGIII).

As long as Dak Prescott does those things, I think he will win the Heisman Trophy for the first time in Mississippi State history. So the stat line I want to see from Dak Prescott on his way to the Heisman? Well let’s take a stab at it, shall we? 65% Passing Accuracy, 3000+ passing yards, 25+ Passing TDs, less than 7 INTs. Rushing wise, I want to see over 1000 yards rushing and about 15 rushing touchdowns to be happy. If he can get that sort of stat line, and lead the Bulldogs to a 10-win regular season then it’s very possible for the Bulldogs to have a Heisman Trophy in the trophy case.

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