The most obvious hole for Mississippi State to fill in 2016 is quarterback. Dak Prescott will be missed as much for his play as for his person.

There are a lot of bodies, four, vying to be the Bulldogs quarterback. No one is sure yet which is the best.

But here are the 10 best Bulldogs exiting the spring.

10. JOHNATHAN CALVIN, DL

One of the many players with an impressive showing in the spring game, Calvin had four sacks. The 6-foot-3, 263-pound senior – this may start sounding like a broken record – is a Bulldog primed for a breakout season nationally.

In 13 games last season, Calvin had 27 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.

He was sacking his own quarterbacks in the spring. Opposing quarterbacks should take notice.

9. AERIS WILLIAMS, RB

Among players with at least 40 carries last season, Williams’ 5.2 yards per carry was tops on the team. The sophomore is in his third year in the program and has added weight and maintained the speed that made him a four-star recruit from nearby West Point High.

Nearly 40 pounds heavier than starting RB Brandon Holloway, Williams brings similar speed with an added physical dimension and could be the favorite to be on the field with Holloway in two-back sets.

8. A.J. JEFFERSON, DL

Jefferson is a returning force along the defensive line. The 6-foot-3, 277-pound senior is a veteran who put up a veteran-like 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks last season.

Chris Jones drew a lot of attention in 2015, and a lot of that will shift to Jefferson in his final season. He knows how to get to the quarterback and should be able to at least maintain his seven hurries and one forced fumble. Increasing those numbers would increase the Bulldogs’ defensive danger.

7. MARK McLAURIN, DB

Dan Mullen has a knack for finding under-appreciated players and making opposing teams appreciate them. One of the latest in that line is sophomore DB Mark McLaurin.

McLaurin played in 12 games as a freshman and contributed 20 tackles, three pass breakups and three deflections.

He had a pair of interceptions in the spring game, including one on a trick play where Prescott threw a pass. That is a sign of things to come for the still-blossoming McLaurin.

6. GERRI GREEN, LB

The sophomore is a big one. Listed at 6-foot-4, 243 pounds on the spring roster, Green had 49 tackles (sixth on the team) in 2015, numbers that are expected to dramatically increase in 2016.

Part of a young-but-talented core on defense, Green and McLaurin have had the advantage of learning from older guys. Green is picking things up quickly, posting two interceptions as a redshirt freshman and every game showing flashes of how good he can be and how good coaches are expecting him to be.

5. JAMAL PETERS, DB

Mississippi’s prize recruit of the 2015 class, Peters had 25 tackles as a freshman with two breakups and two deflections.

Loaded with young talent on the defensive side, Peters has the tools to emerge as the best of them all. The Bulldogs flirted this spring with moving Peters to the offensive side but a broken finger slowed that idea.

4. BRANDON HOLLOWAY, RB

Holloway isn’t the biggest guy on the field. He’s one of the smallest at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds. But his production at running back was big last season and it will be again. Holloway rushed for 413 yards, the highest among a stable of running backs.

He didn’t manage to get into the end zone, but that was in large part to Prescott’s 10 rushing touchdowns. MSU is looking for a complementary back to go with Holloway’s speed.

3. MALIK DEAR, WR

Dear could be the most unassuming upcoming star in the SEC. His 2015 numbers are good — 22 catches for 217 yards, 11 carries for 113 yards, three total touchdowns.

But as he showed with six catches for 67 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown in the spring game, he is on the verge of breaking out. Dear ran, threw and passed in high school. His elusiveness and vision makes him a top target in his sophomore season. He also threw a touchdown pass in the spring game.

2. RICHIE BROWN, LB

Brown led the Bulldogs in tackles last season with 109. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound senior knows where the runner is and how to get him to the ground. He was the only player with 100-plus tackles.

An impressive stat line doesn’t stop there. He also had 13 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, three deflections and three hurries.

With Jones off to the NFL, offenses aren’t catching a break by looking up and seeing Brown as the next in line.

1. FRED ROSS, WR

Whichever of the four quarterbacks wins that race, one thing is certain. Fred Ross will be waiting. Ross caught 88 passes for 1,007 yards and five touchdowns last season.

That yardage was good for fourth in the SEC and the only reason he scored only five touchdowns was because De’Runnya Wilson was the top scoring target with 10.

His production will depend largely on who wins the crowded quarterback race, but Ross is plenty good to make Damian Williams, Elijah Staley, Nick Fitzgerald and Nick Tiano look good.

HONORABLE MENTION

DB Kivon Coman, TE Justin Johnson, QB Nick Fitzgerald