It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Most head coaches not playing this weekend are hot on the recruiting trail hoping to reel in the next program-changer for their respective team. As we all know, recruiting can get downright nasty in spots across the Southeast when multiple programs are going after the same talent.

Schools will hit a recruiting dead period from Dec. 15 through Jan. 14, so it’s important for coaching staffs to schedule any last-minute visits before the holidays. Using 247Sports’ composite ranking, here’s a few of the nation’s top uncommitted five-star recruits who may choose the SEC on National Signing Day:

  1. Martez Ivey, OL, 6-6, 270, Apopka, Fla. (Interested in Florida, Auburn): One of the first items on the agenda for newly-hired Florida coach Jim McElwain is securing a commitment from this dominant offensive tackle, the nation’s top player at his position. Ivey has the potential to be a franchise-caliber player for the Gators during a new era of Florida football.
  2. Iman Marshall, CB, 6-1, 190, Long Beach, Ca. (Interested in USC, Florida State, LSU): The Tigers are a long-shot for Marshall’s services but assistant coaches Corey Raymond and Frank Wilson will make a late push for the likely Southern Cal get.
  3. Byron Cowart, DE, 6-4, 250, Seffner, Fla. (Interested in Florida, Florida State, Alabama)
  4. CeCe Jefferson, DE, 6-2, 250, Glen Saint Mary, Fla. (Interested in Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss)
  5. Josh Sweat, DE, 6-5, 240, Chesapeake, Va. (Interested in Virginia Tech, Florida State, Georgia): If defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt could lure Sweat to Athens as the crown jewel of an already impressive signing class, Georgia would be loaded up front next season with potential starpower.
  6. Malik Jefferson, LB, 6-2, 215, Mesquite, Texas (Interested in Texas, Texas A&M): The faster coach Kevin Sumlin names a new defensive coordinator, the better the Aggies chances are at convincing College Station’s the place to be next season for Jefferson.
  7. Terry Beckner Jr., DE, 6-4, 290, East Saint Louis, Ill. (Interested in Mizzou, Auburn, Florida State): Considering the NFL losses Mizzou’s expected to lose this season, Beckner’s an essential piece of the defensive rebuild for Gary Pinkel’s team.
  8. Kendall Sheffield, DB, 6-1, 180, Missouri City, Texas (Interested in Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida State)
  9. Tyrone Johnson, WR, 6-1, 190, New Orleans, La. (Interested in Auburn, Georgia, LSU)
  10. Christian Kirk, ATH, 5-10, 190, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Interested in Texas A&M, USC)