FRISCO, Texas -- These are heady days for Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott.

The world is at his feet as he leads the Cowboys. He is the quarterback of a first-place team in the NFC East. He has set a rookie record with 155 straight passes without an interception and is eight attempts away from breaking Tom Brady’s league record for most throws without a pick to start a career.

He has four touchdown passes. He has run for three touchdowns.

He has the second-most-traded rookie playing card, according to Panini America, the exclusive trading card manufacturer of the NFL and NFL Players Association. By the looks of the jerseys in the stands at AT&T Stadium last week, his No. 4 is selling quite well, too.

He is also on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

How does a 23-year-old under this spotlight stay grounded?

For Prescott, it’s his late mother, Peggy.

“Even though she’s not here, I mean, I know what she’d be saying,” Prescott said. “She taught me well the 20 years I was fortunate to spend with her. Definitely her.”

Ever since the Cowboys selected him in the fourth round, they have praised his poise and maturity. “He’s a really focused guy and very professional in his approach right from Day 1,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s always focused on today. He’s focused on his preparation and he goes out and takes care of his opportunities. It doesn’t mean he’s perfect, by any means, in practice or in games, but he certainly approaches it the right way.”

This is actually the third time Prescott has appeared on SI’s cover. The first came after he led Mississippi State from unranked to No. 1 in the country after beating Auburn. The second was the 2015 college football preview.

He’s not so worried about the SI jinx. “No, I’m not superstitious and I didn’t even know there was a jinx,” Prescott said. “I don’t think it got me the first two times, so I should be all right.”

Mississippi State beat Kentucky the week after Prescott’s first appearance on the cover, and after his second appearance, he finished his senior season with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions.