Photo by: Kelly Gorham
BOBCATS 125: Dakota Prukop
5/21/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
After waiting his turn behind DeNarius McGhee, Dakota Prukop piled up amazing numbers as Bobcat QB
Leading to the 2022 season, the 125th anniversary of Montana State's first football team, we will look at 125 of the greatest Bobcats. You can find details here and a directory here.
Dakota Prukop, QB, 2012-15
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 1st Team AP All-America and 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2015, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2014
A CLOSER LOOK: Succeeding legendary Bobcat legend DeNarius McGhee at quarterback looked like an ominous task in 2014, but the electrifying Dakota Prukop made the transition look smooth. He put the FCS on notice in his first game against that level of competition, rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Central Arkansas, throwing for 289 more. He rang up 488 yards of total offense against Sacramento State, and a week later at UC Davis accounted for 509 yards. As a senior, Prukop proved to be the perfect engineer for Tim Cramsey's all gas/no brakes offense, rushing for 797 yards and throwing for 3,025. He recorded consecutive 399 yard passing games (vs. Cal Poly and NAU) and piled up 549 total yards at Eastern Washington. Prukop graduated from MSU in December 2015 and took the advantage of his remaining season of eligibility by transferring to Oregon, but Prukop's two years as the Bobcats' starting quarterback remain spectacular. His 319.4 total yards per game in his career is a Bobcat record, and his seasons of 347.5 and 320.5 yards per game in a season are second and third on MSU's all-time list.
FROM TEAMMATE AND BOBCAT SAFETY WEST WILSON: "Dakota was my first friend in Bozeman, actually. The day after I landed he drove me up to Hyalite and we fished and cooked out. So that's my brother forever. He knows how to keep it cool but he's cussed out everyone on the field at one point or another. Also, the guy really loves football. He's been grinding it out in Canada for a minute and I'm excited to see what he does in Winnipeg this year. I was with him in Vegas (recently) and he's got the eye of the tiger. I'm always rooting for him."
FORMER IDAHO STATE, MONTANA STATE AND EASTERN WASHINGTON COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Dakota was unshakeable, poised, and humble, and he was a great combination of height, size and speed to be a multi-role quarterback. He could've been a great Dave Dickenson-type thrower, too, but played more like the great Paul Dennehy. He proffered in a scheme that somehow limited his passing numbers but not his winning percentage. He played hurt, played into the wind, played gallantly, and played as the focus of the Bobcat teams he led. He was a true terror to coach against."
Dakota Prukop, QB, 2012-15
ALL-TIME TEAM: None
HONORS: 1st Team AP All-America and 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2015, 2nd Team All-Big Sky in 2014
A CLOSER LOOK: Succeeding legendary Bobcat legend DeNarius McGhee at quarterback looked like an ominous task in 2014, but the electrifying Dakota Prukop made the transition look smooth. He put the FCS on notice in his first game against that level of competition, rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Central Arkansas, throwing for 289 more. He rang up 488 yards of total offense against Sacramento State, and a week later at UC Davis accounted for 509 yards. As a senior, Prukop proved to be the perfect engineer for Tim Cramsey's all gas/no brakes offense, rushing for 797 yards and throwing for 3,025. He recorded consecutive 399 yard passing games (vs. Cal Poly and NAU) and piled up 549 total yards at Eastern Washington. Prukop graduated from MSU in December 2015 and took the advantage of his remaining season of eligibility by transferring to Oregon, but Prukop's two years as the Bobcats' starting quarterback remain spectacular. His 319.4 total yards per game in his career is a Bobcat record, and his seasons of 347.5 and 320.5 yards per game in a season are second and third on MSU's all-time list.
FROM TEAMMATE AND BOBCAT SAFETY WEST WILSON: "Dakota was my first friend in Bozeman, actually. The day after I landed he drove me up to Hyalite and we fished and cooked out. So that's my brother forever. He knows how to keep it cool but he's cussed out everyone on the field at one point or another. Also, the guy really loves football. He's been grinding it out in Canada for a minute and I'm excited to see what he does in Winnipeg this year. I was with him in Vegas (recently) and he's got the eye of the tiger. I'm always rooting for him."
FORMER IDAHO STATE, MONTANA STATE AND EASTERN WASHINGTON COACH MIKE KRAMER: "Dakota was unshakeable, poised, and humble, and he was a great combination of height, size and speed to be a multi-role quarterback. He could've been a great Dave Dickenson-type thrower, too, but played more like the great Paul Dennehy. He proffered in a scheme that somehow limited his passing numbers but not his winning percentage. He played hurt, played into the wind, played gallantly, and played as the focus of the Bobcat teams he led. He was a true terror to coach against."
Leon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
