Dak Prescott, Fred Ross And De’runnya Wilson Named All-SEC
December 08, 2015 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State's trio of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers Fred Ross and De'Runnya Wilson were named to the 2015 All-Southeastern Conference Coaches Team, the league announced Tuesday. Dan Mullen's offense is the first since Georgia's in 2008 to have its quarterback and two receivers selected to the team. It is also the first time in school history the feat has been accomplished.
Prescott became the first Bulldog to earn back-to-back first-team honors at quarterback since Billy Stacy in 1956-57. He led the SEC in conference games this fall in completions (226), completion percentage (67.1), passing yards (2,528), touchdown-to-interception ratio (17:4), passing yards per game (316.2) and total offense per game (363.2). The senior also finished second in league games with a 144.3 passing efficiency rating, and tied for fifth in points scored (48). Prescott was the only player in the SEC to lead his team in both passing and rushing on the season and one of only six players in the Power 5 Conferences to do so.
The Haughton, Louisiana, native broke his own single-season school records for completion percentage (66.9 in 2015; 61.6 in 2014) and yards per game (284.4 in 2015; 265.3 in 2014). In games against Top-25 opponents, Prescott led the SEC in completions (87), completion percentage (63.5), passing yards (889) and passing yards per game (296.3).
Ross became the first MSU All-SEC pass catcher since Eric Moulds in 1995 to earn first-team accolades. The Tyler, Texas, native led the conference in league games with 8.8 receptions per game and 93.2 receiving yards per game. Outside of his offensive responsibilities, the junior finished seventh in the league in punt return average per game and tied for ninth in all-purpose yards per game.
No SEC receiver was better in games versus ranked teams, as Ross accumulated a league-best 29 receptions for 297 yards. He also finished the season strong, ranking second nationally in receptions (41) and fourth in receiving yards (500) during the month of November.
Wilson was awarded with second-team honors after finishing sixth in the SEC with 72.9 yards per conference game and tying for seventh with 5.2 yards per catch in league action. The junior also finished second in the SEC with nine receiving touchdowns in 12 games overall.
Tuesday marked the second time in school history (1978) the Bulldogs had a first-team quarterback and wide receiver. Ross and Wilson are the first Bulldog receivers to earn all-conference honors since Justin Jenkins was named to the second team in 2003.
The trio of Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, Dec. 30, as the Maroon and White battle N.C. 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. For more information on the Maroon and White, follow the program on Twitter at @HailStateFB, like team on Facebook at Facebook.com/HailStateFB and join the squad on Instagram at Instagram.com/HailStateFB. Fans can also get all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for HailStateSnap.
