Since Dak Prescott's professional debut in 2016, he has been in the spotlight.
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Fans root for him to sign a big-time contract, while detractors look at his statistics under a microscope to look for flaws. Being the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys tends to have that effect on people.
Before Prescott's tenure in the NFL, he excelled for Haughton High School in Louisiana.
His journey to the pros wasn't always easy, but his highlight tape shows why many have been enamored with him for years.
Dak Prescott in High School
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Dak Prescott was remarkable as a high school player. As seen in his highlight video, he has the instincts of a winning quarterback: His arm looks strong, and the QB uses his mobility to avoid sacks and extend plays.
Under head coach Rodney Guin, Prescott led the Buccaneers to an undefeated regular season in 2010. He threw for 39 touchdowns, rushed for an additional 17, and was named to the First-Team All-State roster.
Prescott was unanimously considered the best player in the Shreveport area. Despite his accolades, only a handful of NCAA programs gave him offers.
After choosing between remaining in-state with LSU and leaving to join Mississippi State, Prescott chose the Bulldogs.
Dak Prescott at Mississippi State
Dak Prescott redshirted his freshman year, and after getting acclimated to college football, he became one of the better FBS quarterbacks.
MSU's football team isn't always the strongest, but Prescott brought them to heights never seen before. In 2014, Mississippi State was ranked No. 1 spot in the AP poll for the first time in program history.
Dak Prescott coming off the bench in the fourth quarter to lead Mississippi State to victory in 2013 and cementing himself in school history is my favorite Egg Bowl moment. #HailState pic.twitter.com/rMDIP0tBTd
— Tru Maroon Nation (@TruMaroonNation) November 26, 2019
It wasn't all positive for Dak, though. In 2013, his mom, Peggy, passed away from colon cancer complications. The Prescott family has always been close, and, naturally, this was an incredibly painful moment.
In four seasons, Prescott totaled 113 touchdowns (passing and rushing) and only surrendered 23 interceptions. He made it clear that he was ready for the NFL.
Dak Prescott in the NFL
4,902 yards, 30TDs in 2019.
The @dallascowboys placed the franchise tag on QB Dak Prescott. pic.twitter.com/9MJrheoztM
— NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020
In 2016, Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett named Prescott the starting quarterback over Tony Romo, and the decision has paid off.
Prescott has taken the Cowboys to the playoffs twice, and the team continues to make noise in the NFC East. However, he hasn't taken Dallas to a Super Bowl just yet.
He experienced plenty of hardships in 2020. Early in the season, he suffered a severe ankle injury that ended his year. More importantly, he lost his brother, former Northwestern State football player Jace Prescott, to suicide.
Prescott is nothing but resilient, so even during difficult times, he has risen above and been strong both on and off the field.
Dak Prescott's career is far from over, and he has a lot more to prove. If he can return to his peak form, the Cowboys should have no problems competing in a comically clustered NFC East for years to come.
