Missouri needs much better production from Maty Mauk if it wants to maintain its positioning on top of the SEC East in 2015.

Mauk didn’t take the step forward many predicted for him last season, in part due to a regression of talent and depth around him on offense. Even if he learns to operate within the pocket more effectively and make better judgment calls, he’ll need someone on the receiving end of his passes.

But who will that be? Like last year, Missouri must replace its top three receivers. Unlike last year, Mizzou will replenish its receiving corps mostly with freshmen and sophomores.

“I can’t describe how excited I am. This is a young group, but they have so much talent,” Mauk told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch earlier this month.

Let’s take a look at who could be catching Mauk’s passes next season.

RETURNING RECEIVERS

Jimmie Hunt, Bud Sasser and Darius White all entered their senior seasons with some semblance of experience. Hunt and Sasser even combined for 48 catches in ’13.

Missouri won’t have that luxury this next season. Only three returning receivers have played in a college game: fifth-year senior Wesley Leftwich (three career catches, all in ’14), redshirt sophomore J’Mon Moore (two career catches, all in ’14) and true sophomore Nate Brown (two career catches).

The Tigers booted speedy slot receiver Lawrence Lee off the team near the end of his freshman season, and Lee later was the subject of multiple burglary investigations. The team also dismissed sophomore receiver Levi Copelin in September.

DeSean Blair, Keyon Dilosa and Thomas Richard, members of the 2014 class, all redshirted.

Pinkel needs to rely on his famed ability to develop talent. This is an athletic and especially fast group overall, but Leftwich, Moore and Brown all got opportunities at times last season due to injuries, and contributed very little. (Missing two of the three seniors against South Carolina, the passing game fell flat most of the game against a vulnerable secondary.)

There may not be a Sasser from this group, but the Tigers can take a by-committee approach. There are enough bodies here, so Mizzou can take solace in the fact that a few of them will step up during spring practice.

INCOMING CLASS

Missouri added a fourth receiver to the 2015 class last weekend — five if you count Ronnell Perkins. (Perkins, a three-star athlete, played receiver and defensive back in high school, but has hinted he’ll play defense in college.)

Richaud Floyd is small, and will need to add weight to his 5-foot-10 frame, but he reportedly boasts elite speed. Emanuel Hall resembles Moore and Brown, an inch shorter at 6-foot-2, but athletic and fast.

Last weekend, the Tigers got commitments from Jonathan Johnson out of Memphis, a 5-foot-8 slot receiver and potential returner, and Justin Smith, a 6-foot-7 tower from Dublin, Ga.

Pinkel gave two true freshmen receivers the opportunity to play last year, and with the team’s two-deep more wide open in 2015, expect one or two from this group to get serious consideration to at least get their feet wet.

NON-RECEIVERS

Tight end Sean Culkin is the only returning player with a receiving touchdown for the Tigers. Culkin caught 20 passes for 174 yards last season, but dropped passes and miscommunications kept him from catching even more.

Running back Marcus Murphy, who practiced extensively at receiver before the season, caught 28 passes last season, but he used up his eligibility. Leading rusher Russell Hansbrough — with 11 catches in 2014 — does return.

Missouri figures to play several other tight ends and running backs this fall, which could include redshirt freshman tight end Kendall Blanton, junior college transfer running back Chase Abbington and fellow backfield mates Trevon Walters, Ish Witter and Morgan Steward.

Some Missouri fans pined for more involvement for the team’s tight ends in the passing game, but at times it brought about “be careful what you wish for” sentiments. Still, Culkin should be the breadwinner out of this group in terms of receptions in 2015.

At 6-foot-6 and with flowing blonde locks, he cuts an intimidating figure on the field. If he and Mauk get on the same page this offseason, look for Culkin to play with much better efficiency.

OVERALL

Missouri did a masterful job of regenerating the last two seasons despite talent losses. The team is unproven at receiver, but a collection of three-star talents with good upside should lead to plenty of competent options. The Tigers need Moore and Brown to become leaders.

Expect the team to continue to supplement with targets to Culkin and the running backs. It remains to be seen if the team will field a receiver the caliber of a Sasser in ’14 or Dorial Green-Beckham in ’13, but overall depth at the position should improve, so Mizzou will be better equipped to weather potential injuries.

Hansbrough and the running game are capable of leading the offense, so the receivers don’t need to be All-SEC to be effective and help the team win games.