Garrett Shrader: 5 things to know about the Mississippi State quarterback

Garrett Shrader was named Mississippi State's starting quarterback ahead of the LSU game in the 2019 college football season.

Here are five things to know about the true freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina. 

1. The beard 

The first thing you probably notice about Shrader is his facial hair. He has not shaved since Jan. 1. He said he will not shave until New Year's again. 

MSU quarterbacks coach Andrew Breiner joked at the beginning of the season that Shrader could only keep his beard if Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick contacted him and gave him pointers on the upkeep of facial hair. 

Shrader never got in touch with Fitzpatrick, but he kept his beard anyway. 

2. Garrett Shrader had 18 other offers

Shrader, a four-star, dual-threat quarterback, was a hot commodity coming out of Charlotte. 

A slew of other programs wanted his services. He chose Mississippi State over 18 other schools, including Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Those are just the SEC schools. 

Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead heavily recruited Shrader to State College, Pennsylvania, when he was the offensive coordinator at Penn State. When Moorhead moved to MSU, Shrader went with him. 

3. Mississippi State recruiting 

Shrader was ranked the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the country in the class of 2019. Most notably, Auburn's Bo Nix checked in at No. 1 on that list. 

Shrader threw for 6,818 yards, 75 touchdowns and 16 interceptions during three seasons as the starter at Charlotte Christian School.

4. Garrett Shrader, NBA star Stephen Curry have something in common

Stephen Curry, the three-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP for the Golden State Warriors, also went to Charlotte Christian School. 

Curry, 31, attended the private school more than a decade before Shrader did. Other notable alumni include Curry's younger brother, Seth Curry, and 10 other athletes who have made it to the professional level in their respective sports.

'Like a pro':What Mississippi State players said about starting QB Garrett Shrader

5. Garrett Shrader went viral for helicopter play against Kansas State

You've probably already seen it. Why not watch it again? 

In the second game of his career, Shrader announced his arrival on the college football scene by launching his body in an effort to gain a first down on fourth-and-16. He started his jump while he was still a full 5 yards away from the line to gain. 

He came up a yard short, but he gained the respect of his teammates and Mississippi State supporters everywhere with his effort.

More:Mississippi State QB Garrett Shrader spins like a helicopter after collision

Joe Moorhead:Garrett Shrader to start at QB against LSU

Contact Tyler Horka at thorka@gannett.com. Follow @tbhorka on Twitter. To read more of Tyler's work, subscribe to the Clarion Ledger today!