If Missouri hopes to improve on its 5-5 record in 2020, several players have to meet bigger expectations, if not exceed them in 2021.

Can these 5 Tigers play like MVPs? They’ll need to if the Tigers plan on winning more than 6 or 7 games this season, as projected by ESPN.

1. Tyler Badie, running back

Nobody expects Badie to replace Larry Rountree, who left as Mizzou’s 2nd all-time leading rusher. Last year, Rountree ran for 972 yards and had 14 of the Tigers’ 21 rushing touchdowns.

Badie was very much a complementary piece, but he added 4 rushing TDs and 242 yards on 48 carries.

Badie isn’t built to be a workhorse like Rountree, but he is more versatile. Last season, he caught 28 passes for 333 yards and added 2 more TDs.

Touches will be a fairer way to measure Badie’s impact than rushes in 2021.

2. Connor Bazelak, quarterback

The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year has high expectations — but also plenty of room to improve.

The redshirt sophomore quarterback threw for over 2,300 yards with 7 touchdowns. It was solid, not spectacular. But he showed flashes — most notably in a career-day against LSU — that he can do more than hand off.

The biggest opportunity for growth is his ability to stretch the field. Mizzou simply lacked that ability last season. Bazelak completed just 7 passes that covered at least 30 yards. LSU’s Max Johnson completed 8 such passes in half as many throws as Bazelak.

Drew Lock led the SEC with 32 30+ yard completions in 2017. That’s not a realistic ask for Bazelak, but doubling his 2020 output would signify a step in the right direction.

3. Keke Chism, wide receiver

Chism led the Tigers in catches (35) and receiving yards (458) last season. In keeping with the 30+ yard theme, however, his longest catch of the season gained 29 yards.

The 6-5 senior averaged 13.1 yards per catch and had just 1 TD catch.

Again, there is plenty of room for those numbers to grow.

He’ll team with another transfer, Mookie Cooper via Ohio State, to give Bazelak some outside options.

Cooper, a 4-star recruit from St. Louis, is expected to make an immediate impact.

4. Trajan Jeffcoat, defensive end

While the offense will be the key in leading this team, the defense has to step up if they are going to make a move in the SEC East.

Trajan Jeffcoat will be one of the key pieces. Jeffcoat, who was named to AP’s All-SEC team in 2020, had 6 sacks and 23 tackles, 19 of which were solo.

Jeffcoat will lead an inexperienced defense that will need him to put up even bigger numbers than he did in 2020 if they are to improve on last season’s 8th-place finish in total defense.

5. Martez Manuel, defensive back

The defensive back had a tremendous year for the Tigers with 64 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Look for new DC Steve Wilks to take advantage of Manuel’s physicality and penchant for getting to the QB via blitzes in 2021.

Manuel, named a captain in the offseason, is the leader of a revamped back 7, which must find a way to replace the production of All-SEC linebacker Nick Bolton.

Manuel plays a different position, obviously, but he’ll be asked to stuff the stat sheet.

The good news for Manuel is that he will have some help in the secondary from two Tulsa cornerback transfers, Akayleb Evans and Allie Green IV.