With the league’s worst offense and the fourth-rated defense, it’s no surprise that defensive players dominate the list of best returning players for Missouri.

New coach Barry Odom and his staff will have some work to do on both sides of the ball — with the loss of the national tackles leader Kentrell Brothers and those offensive woes — to get Mizzou back into a bowl game in 2016.

Here are a few players that will help pave the way for the Tigers when next season gets rolling:

5. QB Maty Mauk — Odom has officially returned the mercurial quarterback to the fold, giving him a chance to compete in the spring with Drew Lock for the starting job for new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel’s offense.

Mauk, a preseason all-SEC second-team selection, had a year to forget in 2015. But the rising senior has enough experience and talent (41 career touchdown passes) to win the job and finish his Missouri career with a flourish.

The biggest question is can he stay out of the new coach’s doghouse?

4. SS Anthony Sherrils — The rising junior made the most of his first season as a starter at strong safety, finishing third on the team with 64 tackles. He also had an interception and six pass break-ups for the Tigers.

Next season, he’ll be one of eight returning starters from one of the SEC’s better defenses, so whatever success this team finds in 2016, he’ll likely be at the heart of it.

3. CB Aarion Penton — The rising junior from St. Louis had another strong season in 2015. He was fifth on the team with 59 tackles, recorded an interception and also returned a punt for a score in the season opener against Southeast Missouri State.

He added 4.5 tackles for loss, and led the team in passes broken up.

2. DE Walter Brady — The rising sophomore from Florence, Ala., recorded seven sacks this season, which was tied for first nationally among freshmen. He also had 12.5 tackles for loss to go along with his 40 stops. He even had an interception.

Brady, along with the next guy on this list, formed one of the most productive pass rushing duos in the SEC in 2015.

1. DE Charles Harris — Like his counterpart, Harris had seven sacks in 2015. The rising junior also had 56 tackles, and he tied for the league lead with 18.5 tackles for loss.

His constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks — he had 10 more QB hurries — was one of the keys for the success the defense had this season.