Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen talks training with Dak Prescott

New Mississippi State starting quarterback Blake Shapen appeared in Dallas Wednesday for 2024 SEC Media Days. The former Baylor signal-caller has been tasked with leading Jeff Lebby's high-flying offensive attack this fall and ushering Bulldog football into a new era.

There are expectations for Shapen to have a highly-productive season in Starkville playing in Lebby's offense. If his numbers are anywhere close to what Lebby's QBs typically produce, his name could find itself near a Mississippi State legend in the single-season record books - Dak Prescott.

And as it just so happens, Blake Shapen has spent time with the Bulldog great and current Dallas Cowboys superstar.

""I've trained with Dak a couple of times, and it's really cool being around Dak. He's a great dude, and anytime you can take information from a guy like that that's played in a lot of big time football games in the NFL, it's pretty special...You talk to Dak, and he's the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys...but he's a very normal guy. You can have a conversation with him, and you can tell the moment's probably never too big for him.""

- Blake Shapen, Mississippi State QB

Blake Shapen's relationship with Dak Prescott stemmed from their mutual friend, Damien Williams. Williams is a former Mississippi State QB himself who served as Prescott's backup in Starkville, and as 247 Sports' Justin Frommer reported last month, he's been Shapen's personal coach for the last few years.

Damien Williams is best remembered by Bulldog fans for being thrust-in to the lineup late in the game against Arkansas on the road as a true freshman in 2013, scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime with both Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott injured. He'd then give an admirable performance starting the Egg Bowl the next week before Prescott relieved him in the fourth quarter to win the game.

Williams and Prescott have remained close friends since their time together in Starkville, and that relationship is what allowed Blake Shapen the opportunity to learn from the best to ever wear the Maroon and White.

We'll see if what he learned from Prescott translates to the field this fall.