Football programs in the powerful Southeastern Conference, which last season failed to win the national title for the first time in half a decade, have reloaded from the high school ranks and the NCAA transfer portal.
Here's a look at some of the league's players to watch coming out of spring practices for all 16 teams that will be in the SEC for the 2024 season. Oklahoma and Texas move over from the Big 12 this summer.
Alabama: A young running back such as Justice Haynes, Jam Miller or Richard Young will have to step up for the Crimson Tide, who lost their two leading rushers from last season.
Arkansas: Xavian Sorey Jr. has transferred from Georgia and should help the Razorbacks overcome the loss of their top three linebackers from 2023. The former five-star recruit had 19 tackles, five quarterback pressures and a sack last season for the Bulldogs.
Auburn: Cam Coleman brings some much-needed playmaking abilities at receiver, a position that has been severely lacking for the Tigers lately. The freshman enrolled early and made a couple of big plays in the team's spring game.
Florida: Justus Boone had 24 tackles and a sack in 2022, when he appeared in all 12 games the Gators played. The 6-foot-4, 267-pound defensive lineman was on track for a breakout campaign in 2023 before tearing a ligament in his right knee and missing the entire season. His absence was felt as the Gators totaled just 22 sacks.
Georgia: The Bulldogs brought in Florida transfer Trevor Etienne to help make up for the loss of leading rushers Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton. Etienne ran for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Gators.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution photo by Curtis Compton via AP / Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, who transferred to join the Bulldogs after two seasons at SEC rival Florida, makes a long gain during the G-Day spring game on April 13 in Athens.Kentucky: Former Georgia starting linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson joined the Wildcats after compiling 126 tackles in three seasons with the Bulldogs, including 17 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
LSU: Wide receivers Chris Hilton Jr. (30 catches, 558 yards, seven touchdowns in 2023) and Kyren Lacy (13 catches, 225 yards, two touchdowns) will try to step out of the shadows of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, who were first-round picks in the NFL draft Thursday night.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs brought in big-play receiver Kelly Akharaiyi from UTEP, where he was an All-Conference USA first-team pick. He had 48 catches for 1,033 yards and seven touchdowns last season while ranking fifth nationally in yards per catch (21.5).
Missouri: Georgia State transfer Marcus Carroll, an All-Sun Belt first-teamer, and Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel are expected to compete for the lead role at running back. The Tigers lost Cody Schrader, who received Heisman Trophy votes after a spectacular senior season.
Oklahoma: Jackson Arnold became the starting quarterback in December after Dillon Gabriel left for Oregon, with the freshman passing for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in his first start, a loss to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.
Ole Miss: Defensive tackle Walter Nolen arrived from Texas A&M as one of the country's top-rated transfers and bolsters an experienced front. The former five-star recruit made 14 starts in two years with the Aggies and had four sacks last season.
South Carolina: Freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart (6-5, 245) was the highest-rated recruit in the Gamecocks' 2024 recruiting class and stood out during spring drills. He's seeking playing time in a group that includes Gilber Edmond, who played at Florida State last season.
Tennessee: Bru McCoy had 17 catches for 217 yards in five games last year before a right ankle injury ended his season. He put up solid numbers in 2022 after transferring from Southern California, though, and the Volunteers hope he can duplicate that.
Texas: Backup quarterback Arch Manning created the biggest buzz among the Longhorns by passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game, but head coach Steve Sarkisian said Quinn Ewers remains the starter after staying in school instead of going pro.
Texas A&M: Edge rusher Nic Scourton (6-4, 280) could make a big impact after transferring from Purdue. He had 50 tackles for the Boilermakers last season, including 15 for loss and 10 sacks.
Vanderbilt: Langston Patterson's 74 total tackles led the Commodores in 2023, but the third-year linebacker from Nashville may need to be even better this season as head coach Clark Lea has decided to coordinate the defense himself in his fourth year leading the program.