Two quarterbacks met at the Manning Passing Academy’s annual football camp a few years ago at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., and became good friends.
One was drafted in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft, the other in the fourth round.
Injuries forced both of them to ascend from third to first on the depth chart, and they’ve responded by playing well as rookies. But one is largely lost in the shuffle on a winless team while the other is the talk of the league on what looks to be a legitimate contender.
This is the story of Cody Kessler and Dak Prescott.
“He is having a lot of success,” Kessler said, “and I am proud of him.”
Kessler will start for the Browns (0-8) and Prescott for the Dallas Cowboys (6-1) when the two teams face each other beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns drafted Kessler 93rd overall out of the University of Southern California. The Cowboys took Prescott 135th overall out of Mississippi State.
“We liked [Prescott],” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “Obviously, he has shown to be really good. He was definitely a guy that was in consideration, but obviously, we have the guy that we took, and they have the guy that they took. I think everybody has the right guy for them.”
Perhaps the Browns preferred Kessler over Prescott based solely on their football evaluations. But the fact that Prescott was arrested and charged with driving under the influence about six weeks before the draft had to be another factor for the Browns, who were coming off two seasons with Johnny Manziel and his demons. The Browns would have been criticized from coast to coast had they taken such a risk.
“None of that matters right now,” Jackson said when asked what role the arrest played in the Browns passing on Prescott eight times. “He is at Dallas, and we have the guy that we drafted. So I do not want to go beyond that.”
Prescott claimed he’s not sure why teams were hesitant to draft him.
“But I have definitely used it as motivation,” he said during a conference call. “Everybody that has passed on me just motivates me to wake up every morning and prove everyone wrong.”
On the other hand, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett admitted the arrest raised questions the franchise had to ask Prescott during a pre-draft visit to feel comfortable with him. In July, Prescott was found not guilty of DUI.
“The questions stemmed from the DUI that he had, and we had a chance to visit with him about that when he came to our facility,” Garrett said during a conference call. “He was very honest, up-front and accountable for that. We just felt like he handled it really well. That was not a concern of ours going into the draft.”
Prescott said he talked to the Browns at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine but felt as if their pursuit was “nothing serious.” In addition to meeting with Prescott at the Senior Bowl and combine, the Cowboys sent quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson to conduct a private workout with him at Mississippi State and then brought him to their training facility for a pre-draft visit.
“We spent a lot of time with him,” Garrett said. “... The more we got to know him as a person, he was very impressive.”
Prescott, 23, has been just as impressive on the field after preseason injuries to four-time Pro Bowler Tony Romo (back) and Kellen Moore (broken ankle) paved the way for him to start.
Prescott has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 1,773 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions. His passer rating is 99.6.
There’s no doubt he has benefited from playing behind what’s widely considered to be the best offensive line in the NFL. Having weapons like rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receivers Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten makes life easier, too.
Browns cornerback Tramon Williams said Prescott is “a guy who understands the game, doesn’t try to do too much, still has a lot of ability that he hasn’t shown yet, but doesn’t try to do too much because obviously they have the best offensive line in the game, one of the better running backs and receiving corps. He has so many weapons around him, it doesn’t cause for him to try to do too much, but he is a talented, young guy.”
The Cowboys wouldn’t be on a six-game winning streak if Prescott weren’t playing at a high level. He’s the second rookie QB in NFL history to start a career by winning six of his first seven starts. Johnny Lujack accomplished the feat with the Chicago Bears in 1948.
“He has some help, and he is making plays,” Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said. “He made that overtime play [a 5-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Witten last week against the Philadelphia Eagles]. He can move, too. He can run. That is something we are going to have to keep our eyes on and watch that as well. He is a good player. He can beat you with his legs, and you always have to fear that.”
Kessler, 23, has completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 947 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in five starts. His passer rating is 94.4.
But without a stellar supporting cast like the one Prescott has, Kessler has zero wins to show for his production.
Still, Kessler claims he doesn’t want to trade places with his buddy.
Jackson is turning back to Kessler as the starter after he missed one game with a concussion because the coach said the Browns, who own two first-round picks in next year’s draft, need to know whether Kessler can be their quarterback of the future.
“I love it here,” Kessler said. “There is nowhere else I would rather be. I am excited, and I love that, the underdog mentality.
“You want a challenge. You want something that is not given to you, but you have to work for. This team has been through a lot, and it is awesome to be a part of it. There is nowhere else I would rather be.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.