ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s not supposed to look that easy.

Markus Golden took two steps off the edge and powered through Minnesota’s right tackle before spearing quarterback Mitch Lender behind the line of scrimmage for a sack and forced fumble, one of many stellar plays from one of Mizzou’s defensive captains during Thursday’s Citrus Bowl win over Minnesota.

The senior end and former JUCO transfer made sure teammate Shane Ray could soak in some of the post-game glory as well, motioning for his brother in battle to join him on the podium following the Tigers’ 11th win of the season.

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Alongside coach Gary Pinkel, Ray grabbed fruit from the basket atop the Citrus trophy and tried to juggle, drawing laughter from Golden.

It was the only time Mizzou’s headliners up front failed to execute in Orlando.

“It’s a blessing just to be part of the Mizzou team, just to be out here playing,” Golden said after recording a team-high 10 stops including four tackles for loss. “But for me to get MVP, it’s amazing. It’s one of the biggest days of my life. Like I said, coming to Missouri (was) one of the best things that happened to me.”

Ray’s emergence as the SEC’s defensive player of the year this season took some of the pressure off of Golden who no longer performed in the shadows of Michael Sam and Kony Ealy. Equipped with the league’s most-feared pass-rushing tandem, the Tigers won their second consecutive Eastern Division title despite being all but written off after a 34-point loss to Georgia on Oct. 11.

Pinkel’s veterans came together to win six straight games before a loss to Alabama and capped another Top 15 season with a bowl win. Despite limping throughout the Citrus Bowl on a sore right leg, Ray jarred a ball loose, was in on a sack and made four tackles in what could be his final game as well.

The projected first-round pick in April’s NFL Draft hasn’t decided on his next move.

Pinkel expressed his gratitude toward both after the game and recounted Golden’s move from linebacker to edge rusher when he first arrived in Columbia.

“We run a real disciplined, structured program and I remember right when he came in, he said, I’m in a hundred percent,” Pinkel said. “It wasn’t like we had to convince him how to do things. He was committed to us. And he also trusted us. We told him we’re going to move him from linebacker to defensive end and he looked at me like I was crazy.

“But we’re so proud of him. He’s got his degree in his hip pocket. And a combination of all those things are just a very special story and a great visual aid for a lot of people out there of what you can accomplish if you put your mind to it.”