Before he became the NFL’s resident highlight-play receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. put up modest numbers as a sophomore at LSU, catching 43 passes and scoring just two touchdowns in 2012.

The next year, however, he emerged as a star with 59 catches for 1,152 yards. He formed a lethal tandem with another future Pro Bowler in Jarvis Landry, who had an even more dramatic improvement, going from 573 yards receiving in 2012 to 1,193.

The pair caught passes from the same quarterback, Zach Mettenberger, who managed a 128.3 passer rating in 2012. But in 2013, he was firing the ball with more confidence and produced a 171.4 passer rating and 22 touchdown passes.

That trio, it would seem, had a heck of an offseason prior to ’13.

For all the money and the big crowds, college football is still a developmental level of the game. It’s not unusual for players to turn the corner and make profound improvements and change who they are as a player. Having players take that step often is a key to a college program’s consistent success.

Here are five players LSU needs to have one of those big offseasons for the team to reach its 2016 goals:

QB Brandon Harris

The Mettenberger comparison brings some hope for LSU fans about Harris, whose weak finish to 2015 left some hoping that Purdue transfer Danny Etling might overcome the rising junior for the job.

But here’s one statistic to remember: Harris’ passer rating in 2015 was 130.6, a little better than Mettenberger’s 128.3 the year before his breakout season. Can Harris enjoy a similar breakthrough? Perhaps, but it will take an offseason where he not only grows in his mechanical ability as a passer and in his understanding of Cam Cameron’s offense, but also in his maturity and ability to lead.

If Harris can get LSU into the right plays and deliver passes where they need to be when he needs to make them, an offense with Leonard Fournette in the backfield could become unstoppable. But that progress has to be made now and not September.

WR Travin Dural

The Mettenberger breakout didn’t happen without his two star receivers also progressing. For Harris, the same is true. One receiver, Malachi Dupre, appears on his way to a breakout season coming off a good spring and a 43-catch, 698-yard sophomore season in 2015.

But the other receiver, Travin Dural, took a step backward as a junior in 2015, seeing his production drop in receptions (28, compared to 37 in 2014), yards (533 compared to 758) and touchdowns (just three, compared to seven the year before). Part of his issue was a hamstring injury that resulted in Dural missing spring practice.

LSU needs Dural healthy and ready to put 2015’s disappointments behind him and build off the success he enjoyed in 2014.

LT Maea Teuhema

Teuhema started 11 games at guard as a freshman last year, but his move to left tackle could be the key to LSU’s offensive line success.

Teuhema struggled some during the spring game, leaving open the possibility that the Tigers could move starting center Ethan Pocic to the edge after Andy Dodd filled in admirably for Pocic in spring practice. That’s a comforting thought in a way, but if Teuhema can’t cut it that means not only will LSU essentially have to break in Pocic at a new position, but also groom a new starting center.

There’s a reason why Teuhema is getting the first shot to start. LSU needs for him to turn his immense physical gifts into consistent performance in a hurry.

NT Davon Godchaux

After starting as a 4-3 defensive tackle last year, Godchaux shifted from defensive end to nose tackle during the spring. With the position change may come a tweak to how he sculpts his body.

At under 300 pounds, Godchaux is small for the position, but defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said he likes Godchaux’s explosiveness as a way to attract double teams. Like a lot of LSU’s defenders, Godchaux is having to adjust his mentality from a position in a 4-3 defense that no longer exists to one that holds a different responsibility in Aranda’s 3-4 scheme.

But none of the position changes are more important than Godchaux’s spot. If Godchaux can’t control the point of attack in the physical SEC, the Tigers aren’t likely to enjoy the transition to the new defense.

RB Leonard Fournette

Breakout seasons don’t always require big offseasons. Sometimes it’s about having a big offseason to avoid disappointment.

As an early Heisman Trophy favorite, Fournette will have to deal with all the trappings of those expectations while staying focused on what he needs to do on the field. At the end of spring practice, head coach Les Miles challenged Fournette to slim down to get a step faster. Will Fournette stay focused on issues like that, or get caught up on being one of college football’s biggest stars?

Before he can win any big awards next year, Fournette needs to win those battles in the summer.