The Southeastern Conference showcases standouts and stars every football season. Some are known commodities, while others are on the verge of becoming household names.
Here’s a look at some of the key players — one nonquarterback for each of the 16 teams in the league — who garnered attention during spring practices this year and could end up being NFL draft picks if they follow through this fall.
Alabama left tackle Jackson Lloyd: He secured the starting job without much hesitation from coaches or competition from teammates this spring. The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Californian learned from All-American Kadyn Proctor last year and is already making strides under new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm in Tuscaloosa. They are two of the key pieces in the Crimson Tide’s push to improve a ground game that ranked next to last in the SEC in 2025.
Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr.: He notched 44 tackles as a junior last season, including a team-leading 15.5 for a loss and eight sacks, then chose to stay in school for another year. New Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield recruited Rhodes to Memphis in 2022, setting the foundation for a relationship that mattered three years later. Now the 6-6, 277-pounder is poised to give the Razorbacks a key building block on defense.
Auburn receiver DeShawn Spencer: The early enrollee is already making a strong case for playing time. He had nine catches for 93 yards in the team’s spring game, flashing a quick first step and precise route-running ability. Although new Auburn coach Alex Golesh brought four receivers with him from South Florida, including Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton, Spencer could end up in the mix this fall for the Tigers.
Florida defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo: The 6-6, 303-pounder from Manchester, England, transferred from Alabama’s Jacksonville State and stood out for the Gators in their first spring under coach Jon Sumrall. With an NFL body and pro moves, he could be a force as a fifth-year senior.
Georgia running back Nate Frazier: He says the bottom line for his junior season is helping the Bulldogs reach their team goals, but in the process, he can solidify his status as a first-round talent for next year’s draft. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder led the team with 1,063 all-purpose yards last season, including 947 rushing while scoring seven total touchdowns. He was the lead back in a one-two punch with Chauncey Bowens.
Kentucky running back CJ Baxter: The 6-1, 230-pounder joins new coach Will Stein after three seasons at Texas. The Florida native finished with 659 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a freshman in 2023, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and showing the potential to be the Longhorns’ next great back, but he was banged up the past two years.
LSU cornerback DJ Pickett: With the exit of Mansoor Delane as an NFL prospect, the Tigers will look for Pickett to emerge as the next great corner at “DBU.” Pickett and PJ Woodland together could give new coach Lane Kiffin the league’s top tandem of defensive backs.
Mississippi State offensive tackle Jakheem Shumpert-Perkins: The 6-5, 330-pounder played just 12 snaps in Starkville last year, but he has already locked up a starting spot in 2026, coach Jeff Lebby said. The fourth-year junior played only one season of varsity football in high school and had no NCAA Division I scholarship offers before landing at Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2023.
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy: He could have chased big money as a transfer but elected to stay and follow up an All-SEC season in which he ran for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hardy knows the portal process well, having begun his career at Louisiana-Monroe before transferring to Missouri ahead of the 2025 season.
Oklahoma receiver Isaiah Sategna: The team’s top offensive playmaker returns and combines with quarterback John Mateer to give the Sooners a dynamic duo. He caught 67 passes for 965 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior last year, then showed his speed again in the spring game with a 50-yard catch that would have gone for 76 had he not stepped out of bounds.
Ole Miss defensive end Kam Franklin: He stayed in Oxford despite the coaching change — which didn’t keep the Rebels from making a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals — and gives former defensive coordinator Pete Golding a building block on that side of the ball. The 6-5, 290-pound edge rusher had 69 tackles last season, including nine behind the line of scrimmage.
South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart: He missed spring work with the team while returning from a back injury that limited him down the stretch last season, but there’s little doubt he’s a key player for the Gamecocks, a guy with game-wrecking ability. The 6-5, 245-pounder from Washington, D.C., had 33 tackles (including 12 behind the line of scrimmage) as a sophomore in 2025.
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop: The 5-10, 210-pound Knoxville native returns after leading the Volunteers with 1,076 yards on the ground last season. His 16 rushing touchdowns tied for second most in the SEC in 2025.
Texas receiver Cam Coleman: The 6-3 Auburn transfer is expected to be Arch Manning’s No. 1 target this fall. Coleman caught 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns last season despite playing for the league’s 15th-ranked offense. Now he teams with Ryan Wingo to potentially give the Longhorns the league’s best receiver tandem.
Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford: He left the spring game on a cart and with his lower left leg and foot in an air cast, a potentially devastating injury for the Aggies. The 6-2, 230-pound senior was coming off his best season, finishing with 57 tackles (including 9.5 behind the line of scrimmage), two forced fumbles and an interception. Coach Mike Elko has provided no timetable on Sanford’s return.
Vanderbilt cornerback Martel Hight: The 6-0, 180-pound senior from Rome, Georgia, is back to anchor the secondary after leading the Commodores with four interceptions last season, which was tied for most in the SEC. He also dabbles at receiver, with seven catches for 64 yards in 2025.