Top 10 Quarterbacks in Mississippi State History

Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; A general view of Davis Wade Stadium during a game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide game. The Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the history of Mississippi State football there have been many quarterbacks come and go. Today we’ll pick out the best of the best and seek to rank them in a top 10 list.

MSU has never been a school known for producing great quarterbacks. In fact, the school never produced a 3,000 yard passer until Dak Prescott eclipsed that mark in 2014.

While it’s been a struggle at times to find elite passing QBs, that doesn’t mean Mississippi State has lacked for signal callers who were winners, able to do what it took to win football games. Dak Prescott may have been the first one to hit 3,000 yards in a season, but he is just as known for running the football as many of the QBs on this list are.

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To compile this list I considered a number of factors. Naturally, the ability the throw the ball effectively was near the top of it. But also equally important was winning football games. Also, the added dimension of using their legs to move the chains or escape pressure factored in.

I’ll go ahead and say I wanted to put a QB in from the 1940s but that’s really hard to do. For one, I wasn’t alive. Secondly, player’s positions are just listed with a ‘B’ which could make them a quarterback, fullback or halfback….so it’s hard to distinguish. Alas, the golden era of Mississippi State football will not have a representative on this list. I did do as much research as I could, however, and we have a QB from each decade since.

Before we start, here are some honorable mentions:

• Chris Relf (2008-11): top 10 in completion %, passing yards and touchdowns
• Sleepy Robinson (1991-92): won a lot of games in 1991 and in 1992 before tearing ACL that year
• Kevin Fant (2000-03): won nothing, but he’s the 3rd all-time passing yardage leader
• Tony Shell (1987-1990): top 10 in completions, passing yards and touchdowns

Next: Back to the 60s