JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A full year as the team's starting quarterback? Check.

Effective runner and passer? Check.

Took time to develop into a better quarterback in the offseason? Check.

Mississippi State junior quarterback Chris Relf has seemed to follow Denard Robinson's blueprint for collegiate success. And Michigan will be tasked with stopping Relf and the Mississippi State offense come Jan. 1 during the Gator Bowl.

But the Bulldogs’ signal caller might be more comparable to a Cam Newton or Terrelle Pryor than the dynamic sophomore Robinson.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has coached up dual-threat quarterbacks before Relf took center stage this season for Mississippi State. There was Alex Smith when Mullen was a coordinator under Urban Meyer in Utah. After that, Tim Tebow ran Mullen’s offense at Florida. Tebow was a bruiser, just like Relf.

“Look at him, he’s about 6-foot-4, 250 pounds,” Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koenning said of Relf. “When you’re driving one of those big trucks, he’s coming along. And when he wants to get after it and run he’s pretty powerful when he does that.

“But (he’s) going to take that all year. He was a little beat up late in the year. We’ve been able to get him a little bit more healthier.”

Mississippi State runs a form of the spread offense that is infecting the college football landscape. Consequently, Relf led the team in carries (179) he finished second in rushing yards (683). But the important development for the run-oriented Bulldogs — who run twice as much as they throw — was how Relf would develop as a passer.

In the offseason, Relf took the extra time to study defenses on his own and threw to receivers three days a week.

“Again, just progressions and reads — you don’t just go out there and become a quarterback,” Koenning said. “It takes all of the coverage recognition and, with young quarterbacks it’s a real big deal. You need to understand how to check the ball down and also when to take advantage on deep throws when those opportunities arise.”

Relf only topped 200 yards passing three times in 2010, but two of those occurrences came in Mississippi State’s final two games against Arkansas and Ole Miss. It makes everything easier on offense, Koenning said, when his quarterback is able to connect on some deep passes like he did in the final two games — especially because the passing success opens up the run game.

In those performances, he combined to complete 33 of 50 passes for 512 yards and three touchdowns. He also tacked on a total of 169 rushing yards, as Mississippi State dropped the first to the Razorbacks in double overtime and narrowly beat the Rebels 31-23.

If this season is any indicator, the Wolverines will likely have trouble containing Relf, whether through the air or on the ground.

Michigan has especially had issues with quarterbacks who can run: Pryor, 12 carries, 49 yards; Illinois’ Nathan Scheelhaase 21 carries, 101 yards; and Purdue’s Rob Henry, 12 carries, 75 yards. And the Wolverines’ pass defense is a few spots away from the worst in Division I football.

Just like Michigan has done at times, Mullen had a quarterback rotation earlier in the season — he pulled Relf in favor of redshirt freshman Tyler Russell, who threw for four touchdowns in Mississippi State’s season opener. But Russell didn’t appear in either of the team’s final two games when Relf put up solid numbers.

The passing game is clicking for Relf, and Koenning said that he’s come a long way this season since way back in September.

“I think just comfort, having the comfort level and the maturity and experience to make good decisions with the ball in his hands,” Mullen said of the difference in Relf’s game. “He’s done a nice job of throwing the ball away when he needs to, of taking chances on-on-one, taking some shots down the field when he needs to. And he’s done a better job developing as a passer — setting his feet and making throws.”