Breaking: Mississippi State Top quarterback “Blake Shapen” Get Brutally Honest on Training with Dak Prescott
New Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen discussed training Bulldog great and current Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott at 2024 SEC Media Days
Blake Shapen, the new starting quarterback for Mississippi State, made an appearance at the 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas. Previously at Baylor, Shapen now takes on the role of leading Jeff Lebby’s dynamic offensive strategy at Mississippi State, marking a new chapter for Bulldog football.
Expectations are high for Shapen to deliver a productive season in Starkville under Lebby’s system. If his performance aligns with the typical output of Lebby’s quarterbacks, Shapen could potentially challenge Mississippi State’s single-season records, often associated with legends like Dak Prescott.
Interestingly, Shapen has trained with Prescott, the former Bulldog standout and current star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Reflecting on their interactions, Shapen noted, “I’ve had the opportunity to work out with Dak a few times, and it’s been really valuable. He’s a great guy, and learning from someone who has played in numerous big NFL games is special…When you talk to Dak, he’s the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, but he’s down-to-earth. You can have meaningful conversations with him, and it’s clear he thrives in high-pressure moments.”
Mississippi State QB and Baylor transfer Blake Shapen says he has trained with Cowboys QB Dak Prescottđź‘€
"Any time you can take information from a guy like that that's played in a lot of big time football games in the NFL is pretty special." #HailState #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/yeigbMB0DO
— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) July 17, 2024
Blake Shapen’s connection with Dak Prescott traces back to their mutual acquaintance, Damien Williams. Williams, a former Mississippi State quarterback who once backed up Prescott in Starkville, has served as Shapen’s personal coach for the past few years, as reported by 247 Sports’ Justin Frommer recently.
Williams is notably remembered by Bulldog fans for stepping into a crucial role during a game against Arkansas in 2013 as a true freshman. With both Tyler Russell and Dak Prescott injured, Williams scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. He followed this with a commendable performance starting in the Egg Bowl the following week, where Prescott later took over in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Since their time together at Mississippi State, Williams and Prescott have maintained a close friendship. This relationship has provided Blake Shapen with the opportunity to learn from one of the most revered figures in Mississippi State history.
As Shapen prepares for the upcoming season, it remains to be seen how the lessons gleaned from Prescott will translate to his performance on the field this fall.