From maroon and white legends to some of the highest-paid players in the National Football League, Dak Prescott and Chris Jones once were leaders in Mississippi State football, dominating Davis Wade Stadium.
Although their successes are vastly different coming from separate sides of the ball, both have accomplished accolades that many only athletes dream of, including becoming the highest-paid players in their position.
Prescott, a former three-star prospect, according to 247sports.com, from Haughton, Louisiana started his career as a Bulldog in 2011 backing up the notable starting quarterback Tyler Russell. He redshirted that season, meaning he played in fewer than four games to preserve a year of eligibility. During the 2011 season, Prescott saw limited action, mainly being used in red-zone and short-yardage situations. However, he made an early impact, scoring his first touchdown for the Bulldogs in the season-opening win against Jackson State University.
During Prescott’s sophomore season, former head coach Dan Mullen decided to run a two-quarterback system with Prescott and Russell. Prescott would start seven games that season, and though he missed time due to an elbow injury, he still set program records in rushing 829 yards, the most ever for a quarterback. After missing two games following a fourth-quarter elbow injury at Texas A&M, all eyes were on Prescott as he entered the fourth quarter of the Egg Bowl against the University of Mississippi. Many of the Bulldog faithful remember watching him lead a tough victory over the Rebels in overtime as he scored a three-yard rushing touchdown on fourth and one.
Junior year, Prescott shined for the Bulldogs leading them to their first number one ranking in the very first College Football Playoff Ranking in 2014 for five consecutive weeks, an overall 10-2 record, and an Orange Bowl appearance. Before the bowl game, Prescott was asked by USA Today about receiving his draft grade, and Prescott said, “I’m not even focused or paying attention to it. I’m just worried about Georgia Tech and getting this Orange Bowl win.”
Prescott returned for his fifth year and led the Bulldogs with 39 touchdowns and 4,381 yards of offense. He also won the 2015 Conerly Trophy, which is awarded to the best football player in the state of Mississippi.
After five years in Starkville, Prescott was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft in 2016 at pick number 135 by the Dallas Cowboys. After three successful seasons, Prescott would sign his first non-rookie contract with the Cowboys for four years worth $160 million in 2020. The Cowboys and Prescott were about to enter the final season of the deal, but a few hours before the Cowboys’ first game of 2024 began, Adam Schefter reported on X that Prescott had reached a four-year $240 million contract with the Cowboys, marking Prescott as the NFL’s new highest-paid quarterback on the market.
Chris Jones, a defensive tackle from Houston, MS, arrived in Starkville in 2013 and had an immediate impact on the field his true freshman season as he played in all thirteen games and started three, according to the official Mississippi State Athletics website. Jones registered a team-high ten quarterback hurries and tied for the most tackles for a loss on the season with seven.
During his sophomore year, Jones did not start any games but appeared in all thirteen and left his mark with three sacks and 26 tackles, including three and a half for a loss.
In his final year at MSU, Jones excelled on the playing field. In the season’s second game against Louisiana State University, he recorded a career-high eight tackles. He would wrap up his season with thirteen starts and 44 tackles, including seven and a half for a loss, two and a half sacks and four pass breakups. Jones was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line.
After the season, he declared for the 2016 NFL draft where he would be selected 37th overall in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first four seasons, Jones was a dominating force for the Chiefs and earned a four-year $85 million deal from it according to NFL.com.
After winning a Super Bowl with the team in 2023, Jones held out of week one of the 2023-2024 NFL season as he looked for a new contract with the Chiefs. They would come to a one-year deal worth up to $25 million according to ESPN. This March, following back-to-back Super Bowl victories, the Chiefs signed Jones to a record-setting five-year contract worth $158.75 million with $101 million in guarantees according to NFL.com. This deal marked him as the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league.
Jones and Prescott have become icons in the NFL, and their leadership and skills continue to define their legacies. Their impact on the field during their time in Starkville solidified their status as some of the greatest players to ever wear maroon and white.
