The biggest question on everyone’s mind at Mississippi State is who will replace Dak Prescott at quarterback. Nick Fitzgerald is considered the frontrunner, but likely will face a battle from fellow redshirt sophomore Elijah Staley.

Outside of quarterback, Mississippi State has other questions in 2016, including these five:

1. WHO’S THE RUNNING BACK?

With an inexperience quarterback, Mississippi State will need more out of its running backs next year. Prescott led the team with 588 rushing yards and scored 10 of the team’s 20 rushing TDs.

Junior starting RB Brandon Holloway ran for 413 yards on 92 carries. He didn’t score a rushing TD, but did catch five scoring passes, including two in the Bulldogs’ Belk Bowl victory.

Is that enough to stay the starter in the backfield? Perhaps three-star recruit Alec Murphy pushes Holloway out of the starting role.

Junior Ashton Shumpert and freshman Aeris Williams, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 40 attempts, should be in the mix as well.

2. WHAT’S THE IMPACT OF WILSON’S DEPARTURE?

De’Runnya Wilson has decided to forego his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Wilson and fellow junior Fred Ross made up the best wide receiver duo in school history. Ross caught 88 passes for 1,007 yards and five TDs while Wilson had 60 receptions, 918 yards and 10 TDs.

It would have really helped the new quarterback to have both back, and Wilson’s departure could have an impact on Ross, too.

Without Wilson, Mississippi State doesn’t have the same ability to spread out the defense. Does that mean more attention and double coverage on Ross? Probably.

Ross might have a better season, yet not be able to replicate his 2015 numbers.

3. WHAT WILL THE LEFT SIDE OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE LOOK LIKE?

Mississippi State is losing senior starters Rufus Warren and Justin Malone at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Mississippi State wasn’t great up front to the begin with, so this is a big concern.

The Bulldogs allowed 32 sacks with a great running quarterback, ranking 12th in the SEC. Fitzgerald and Staley have running ability. Regardless, the pass blocking has to be better.

Furthermore, Mississippi State averaged just 4.39 yards per rushing attempt, eighth best in the SEC.

Could the unit get worse with two new starters on Fitzgerald’s blind side?

4. OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY CHANGE?

Obviously, there are still a lot of moving parts on this offense. Coach Dan Mullen will make a decision on starters at quarterback and running back before making any change in offensive philosophy.

But there is a possibility for one. The Bulldogs didn’t have offensive balance in 2015. Prescott accounted for more than 70 percent of the team’s offensive yards in the Bulldogs’ first season under Mullen with more passes attempted (500) than rushes (427).

Does Mullen change back to a more run-oriented offense? That will depend greatly on the answers to the first three questions.

5. NEW SEASON, NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

For the third straight season and sixth in eight years, Mississippi State will have a new defensive coordinator. In 2016, its former Southern California assistant Peter Sirmon.

Sirmon spent two seasons at USC as associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach. He played linebacker for the Tennessee Titans from 2000-2006.

It will be interesting to see what talent he recruits this winter with the help of new recruiting coordinator Terrell Buckley, how he builds the defense, and of course, whether or not he stays a second year.