The Clarion-Ledger

The Clarion-Ledger

Dak Prescott is coming back to Mississippi.

The Pro Bowl rookie quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys will be the special guest and featured speaker at The Clarion-Ledger Sports Awards.

The third-annual Sports Awards is set for May 25 at the Jackson Convention Complex, honoring the best in Mississippi high school sports. Those in attendance will also get to hear from Prescott, the Mississippi State legend and rookie sensation for the Dallas Cowboys.

The awards show is presented by The Clarion-Ledger in partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Baptist Health Systems, Entergy and Mississippi Sports Medicine.

“I could not be happier to have Dak Prescott as a part of the 2017 Sports Awards,” said Nate Edwards, president of The Clarion-Ledger and Mississippi Media. “He is an individual who excelled as an athlete while overcoming critics and personal obstacles that confronted him along the way.”

Prescott was already a big name in Mississippi, having led the Mississippi State Bulldogs to No. 1 for five weeks during the 2014 season and putting together a career that is fondly remembered in Starkville. But he became a national phenom this year, going from a fourth-round draft pick and third-string quarterback to the Cowboys’ starter during the preseason.

He took the opportunity and ran with it, completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 3,667 yards and 23 touchdowns (and just four interceptions). Prescott also ran for six touchdowns while leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

In the Cowboys’ last-second loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Prescott threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns. He put together a 103.2 quarterback rating for the game — outperforming Packers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers — and an overall 104.9 rating for the year.

“I think most Mississippians, regardless of their college or NFL ties, became captivated with Prescott’s story this season,” sports editor Hugh Kellenberger said. “He has continually proven that his talents should never be doubted, and his inspiring story is something that I think everyone will want to hear.”

More than 2,000 people have attended each of the first two Sports Awards, and with Prescott as this year’s speaker another sellout crowd is expected.

The Clarion-Ledger picks an all-state team in every high school sport, and every one of those honorees is invited to the event. In addition, the teams that win MHSAA and MAIS state championships are as well.

The night includes a plated dinner, highlight reels, special awards and the camaraderie of being among the state’s best and brightest.

Tickets will go on sale in April. Athletes will be contacted this month via their school’s athletic director and/or coach with more information on how to attend.