As Spring Practices begin to start, it’s time to move on from the players that have graduated or declared themselves eligible for the NFL Draft, and start focusing on the team that will be sporting your favorite colors in 2014.

Since National Signing Day was less than a month ago, many tend to focus on the amazing recruiting classes their teams’ brought in. However, many teams have a lot to be excited about from the players they have returning.

Over the next week, eDraft will take a look at the top returning players in each conference, starting with the SEC, the most talented conference in the country.

10. O.J. Howard (Tight End, Alabama)

Howard did not have superstar numbers as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide, only catching 14 passes, but his 19.2 yards per catch shows how explosive he is at the tight end position. It was evident how talented he is early in the season, but this play against LSU, a 52-yard touchdown on a slant route helped him show the world he is the real deal. His ability to play in-line and block, as well as the skill set to line up as a wide receiver, give him a limitless ceiling. And with Brad Voegler graduated, Howard will see a lot more playing time in 2014. 

9. Amari Cooper (Wide Receiver, Alabama)

Cooper would often stand out whenever Alabama was on T.V., and it was usually because A.J. McCarron would underthrow the speedy receiver, leaving him to have to make a great play to come back to the ball and secure the catch.  Coming into 2013, some argued that Cooper was the best receiver in college football. However, injuries limited him in 2013 to only 45 receptions, 736 yards and four touchdowns. However, when healthy, Cooper has the speed to burn corners and the athletic ability to make plays in the air. He has good size (6’1”, 202) and the strength to battle physical defensive backs. His hands can be a concern at times, but his ability as a playmaker is incredible, and fun to watch.

8. Mike Davis (Running Back, South Carolina)

Davis went unnoticed heading into the 2013 season, largely because of how little he had played coming into the season. He made an impact for the Gamecocks in 2012, averaging over five yards-per-carry, but did now draw enough attention to be mentioned in any of the SEC preseason All-Conference teams. But once the season started, Davis began to shine, opening the season with 115 yards and a touchdown on national television against North Carolina. Davis is a smooth runner, making his cuts look effortless. He has strong balance, and the speed to make defenses pay for not stopping him in the backfield.

7. Dante Fowler (Defensive End, Florida)

Fowler has the potential to be the most disruptive edge rusher returning in the SEC. His explosiveness off the edge and his speed to get to the quarterback is incredible, and he shows the ability to do it from either the defensive end role, or from a stand-up rush linebacker. His stats don’t necessarily demonstrate his ability to get to the quarterback (six career sacks), but he has racked up 18.5 total tackles for loss, and shows ability to penetrate on a consistent basis.

6. Cedric Ogbuehi (Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M)

It’s hard to rank a player who received a first-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board as the sixth best returning player in the conference, but it simply shows how loaded the SEC is with talent. Ogbuehi is of a similar mold to fellow Aggies, Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel: incredible, sound technicians, but don’t necessarily have a mean streak. He played very well at the right tackle position protecting Manziel, which is harder than it sounds when you have idea where Manziel is about to run, and will move to take over the blind side of the next Aggie quarterback.

5. Dorial Green-Beckham (Wide Receiver, Missouri)

Not many players in college football have the same size and athletic ability of Green-Beckham, who measures in at 6’6” and 225 lbs, with good long speed. It’s obvious that he is still learning how to dominate at the position and use his large frame, as his big games tend to be few and far between, but his development from his freshman to his sophomore season was a big jump. If Green-Beckham can continue to grow at that rate, he will be in the discussion for being a Top-10 pick come next May.

4. Todd Gurley (Running Back, Georgia)

Gurley is the closest thing we’ve seen to a complete running back in the past couple years. Gurley measures in with great size (6’1”, 232), and has a great second gear to break away from defenders to turn upfield. Those traits, combined with his balance, strength, and ability to go between the tackles or around the edge make him the total package. His physical running style does open him up to injuries, which showed in 2013, as Gurley missed two games and spent a large portion of other games on the sidelines to due an ankle injury. However, despite the injuries, it is easy to see why Gurley is the top running back in the SEC.

3. Robert Nkemdiche (Defensive End/Tackle, Ole Miss)

Nkemdiche was the nation’s top-ranked high school prospect in the 2013 recruiting class and was expected to make an immediate impact in Oxford his freshman season. While he did not have the same impact Jadaveon Clowney made his freshman season, he gave everyone a lot to be excited about. His size makes him versatile enough to play all along the defensive line, and has the skills to pass rush, as well as be a run stuffer. His ceiling is limitless, and it will be interesting to see how much better he gets coming into 2014.

2. Laquon Treadwell (Wide Receiver, Ole Miss)

Treadwell burst onto the scene as a true freshman. In his first collegiate game against Vanderbilt, catching nine passes and was the go-to target for Bo Wallace throughout the game. Treadwell finished his freshman season with 72 receptions and 608 yards in an running-based offense with very inconsistent quarterback play The big takeaway from the numbers is that Treadwell has the ability to win at all levels of the field. He’s not just a vertical/jump ball threat like many receivers of his size are at the college level. He can make plays in all areas and all levels of the field. And with Donte Moncrief moving on to the NFL, Treadwell will be the focal point of the Rebel offense next season.

1. Vernon Hargreaves III (Cornerback, Florida)

Everyone knew Hargreaves was talented, but very few expected him to come in and make the impact that he did. Despite being a true freshman in a secondary that included Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson and Jaylen Watkins, it was clear that VH3 was the best of the bunch. Due to Roberson suffering an injury, Hargreaves was given the opportunity to start early in the season, and ended up starting 10 games, as he showed the ability to be a shutdown corner. His length, speed, hips, and ability to lockdown receivers, as well as his 11 passes deflected and three interceptions, earned him First Team All-SEC Honors and was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year.

Honorable Mentions

Quarterback: Nick Marshall (Auburn)

Running Back: T.J. Yeldon (Alabama), Keith Marshall (Georgia), Alex Collins (Arkansas)

Wide Receiver: Marquez North (Tennessee), Sammie Coates (Auburn), Ricky Seals-Jones (Texas A&M), Shaq Roland (South Carolina)

Tight End: Evan Engram (Ole Miss)

Offensive Line: Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss), La’el Collins (LSU), Evan Boehm (Missouri), Jarvis Harrison (Texas A&M)

Defensive Line: Carl Lawson (Auburn), Montravius Adams (Auburn), Trey Flowers (Arkansas), Bud Dupree (Kentucky), Za’Darius Smith (Kentucky)

Linebacker: Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State), Trey DePriest (Alabama), Cassanova McKinzy (Auburn), Jordan Jenkins (Georgia)

Defensive Back: Landon Collins (Alabama), Jalen Mills (LSU), Deshazor Everett (Texas A&M)