SEC football: 2015 Heisman hopefuls

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first quarter in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott, quarterback, Mississippi State

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott emerged onto the scene as a junior last season, beginning with a 34-29 upset over the No. 8 LSU Tigers in their fourth game of the year.

The game served as a coming-out party for Prescott, who finished the game with 373 total yards and three touchdowns. The score did not tell the whole story either, as the game was nowhere near as close as the score would show. Prescott led Mississippi State out to a 24-point fourth quarter lead, before his defense nearly gave it all away.

He would continue his streak of dominant play for a few more weeks, and the Bulldogs extended their perfect record to 9-0. His team would falter down the stretch, however, losing three out of four games to end the season and eliminating Prescott from Heisman contention in the process.

If the Heisman Trophy were an MVP award, Prescott would be the clear-cut favorite in the SEC. His value to Mississippi State is immeasurable, as he led the program out of the obscurity that it has lived in for the majority of its history.

He benefitted from a down year in the SEC last season, but that is not to take away from Prescott’s accomplishments. If the Bulldogs are able to put together their first back-to-back 10-win seasons in school history, expect to see him at the Heisman ceremony in December.

Next: Nick Chubb