Mississippi State ranked 10th in the SEC last season in pass defense. Despite losing a pair of senior corners and half the defensive line, there is a talented board of playmakers under Peter Sirmon’s direction in 2016 and in the multiple format he is using, a bunch of them will be on the field at the same time.

The Bulldogs were also 10th in the conference in opponent completion percentage at 60.6, one of only five SEC teams to allow teams to complete at least 60 percent of their passes.

PASS-RUSH

Chris Jones was a bull to block. With Jones gone to the Kansas City Chiefs, there will still be plenty of bulls to block.

At one end, senior Torrey Dale is in place, along with freshman five-star freak Jeffery Simmons ready to make an early impact in the SEC – after sitting out the opener for his controversial off-the-field incident. Seniors anchor the other end with A.J. Jefferson (13.5 TFLs and 5 sacks last season) and Johnathan Calvin, the former junior college transfer expected to take a huge leap.

It is a senior-heavy group with Nick James and Nelson Adams at tackle. That veteran leadership will be needed. Jones and Ryan Brown combined for 15 quarterback hurries last season. Jefferson had seven.

SACK ARTIST

Richie Brown chose not to leave for the NFL. The senior returns after being the Bulldogs’ top tackler with 109, the first Bulldog with more than 100 tackles since 2012. That ranked fifth in the SEC. He stayed in the backfield for 13 tackles for loss and had a team-high 6.5 sacks.

Brown is a ballhawk, lurking at inside linebacker. He was a three-star, in-state recruit from Long Beach. His talent has blossomed with his work ethic, commitment to the college game and the way he has learned to read an SEC field.

He’ll be tasked this year with leading the defense but also leading young linebackers like redshirt freshmen Leo Lewis and Tim Washington.

BALL IN THE AIR

The Bulldogs’ secondary is loaded, with youth and with talent. Sophomore Mark McLaurin and redshirt sophomore Brandon Bryant will start at free and strong safety. Seniors Tolando Cleveland (42 tackles last season) and Cedric Jiles are penciled in at the corners.

McLaurin had 20 tackles, 3 breakups and 3 deflections as a freshman. Right there with McLaurin, probably fairly considered as a co-starter is Kivon Coman. Coman is quietly the second-leading returning tackler with 76 to go along with 4 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups and 8 deflections.

The wild card of the secondary is sophomore Jamal Peters. The No. 1 prospect in Mississippi in 2015, the safety had 25 tackles last season. Peters is 6-foot-2, 206 pounds and is seemingly waiting to explode onto the scene. He can be a scheming nightmare. Two newcomers could make impacts at corner, Lashard Durr (Copiah-Lincoln CC) and sophomore Chris Rayford. Rayford had five tackles last season as a freshman.

PICKOFF ARTIST

Brandon Bryant had 3 interceptions for 73 return yards and a touchdown last season. He got his hands on 6 more deflections and 3 breakups. Redshirt sophomore Gerri Green had a pair of picks last season. Bryant will benefit from quarterbacks trying to avoid Green. Bryant, the fourth-leading tackler returning, tied for ninth in the conference in picks and, with Coman, is one of the SEC’s lowest-flying playmakers.

GREATEST CONCERN

Losing your top two corners is a blow. Taveze Calhoun had 39 tackles, 6.5 for loss. Calhoun and Will Redmond combined for four interceptions. Calhoun had a team-high 10 deflections. There is talent there, senior talent, but it will be tested.

ONE STAT THAT MUST CHANGE IN 2016

The 10th spot. That’s where the Bulldogs consistently placed in pass defense; 10th in completion percentage, 10th in yards allowed, 10th in yards per game. The biggest number there could be the 60.6 percent clip they allowed quarterbacks to throw for. Cut that down and the other numbers go down with it.

BETTER/WORSE IN 2016?

Better. For the not-so-good numbers, the Bulldogs were fifth in the conference in interceptions with 13. Five players responsible for eight of those will be returning. Along with quality depth and talent at multiple positions in a multiple-position design, things are looking up for the Bulldogs pass D in 2016.