Not only is Alabama in the process of locking down its fifth-straight No. 1-ranked recruiting class (according to 247Sports), it has already a premier collection of prospects on campus in Tuscaloosa ready to begin their careers with the Crimson Tide.

Most SEC schools began their spring semesters in the last two weeks, and when classes began so too did the careers of the SEC’s early enrollees. There is plenty of value in a player enrolling in school early, whether they’re a touted high school prospect or an emerging junior college transfer.

Related: Full list of SEC’s early enrollees

Players that enroll in school in the spring semester preceding their first college football season are able to acclimate themselves with the campus, their academics, their new teammates, the playbook, the facilities, the coaching staff, etc. They’re also able to participate in the spring practice season, allowing them a chance to find their niche on the team while building relationships with the other members of the program.

While most SEC schools have brought in a handful of early enrollees, no school in the conference has attracted as many quality prospects to school a semester early as Alabama, which one five-star prospect and five four-star prospects among its seven early enrollees.

Let’s take a look at the Tide’s class of early entrants to determine exactly why it is the best in the conference:

Name Pos. Rating Hometown
Blake Barnett QB 5-star Coronado, Calif.
Desherrrius Flowers RB 4-star Mobile, Ala.
Ronnie Harrison S 4-star Tallahassee, Fla.
Brandon Kennedy OL 4-star Wetumpka, Ala.
Jonathan Taylor DT 3-star Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Dallas Warmack OL 4-star Atlanta, Ga.
Deionte Thompson S 4-star Orange, Texas

Barnett is one of just three five-star early enrollees throughout the SEC, joining LSU cornerback prospect Kevin Tolliver and Texas A&M wideout prospect Christian Kirk in that exclusive club. Barnett shined in the Under Armour All-America game earlier this month, and could have a chance to compete with Jacob Coker for Alabama’s starting job next year if he impresses coaches this spring.

It’s safe to say that Barnett’s chances of assuming the starting job as a freshman improved greatly when he announced he was enrolling early at Alabama, allowing him extra time to develop rapport with his receivers in addition to mastering the playbook.

Warmack is the younger brother of former Alabama All-SEC offensive lineman and current NFL star Chance Warmack, taken in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. His family’s ties to the program should help him get up to speed in a hurry during his first spring semester on campus.

Thompson was an Under Armour All-America this season, as was Kennedy; Warmack and Flowers were both participants in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl earlier this month. Taylor is the least touted prospect in the bunch, but the big defensive tackle should be more game-ready at the college level than the rest of the group thanks to some time at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.

Other schools may have more early enrollees, but no school has as many four- and five-star prospects on campus as the six Alabama enrolled this semester. These players bring a wealth of experience and some ridiculous talent to a program known for stockpiling talent and experience. It’s a perfect marriage in Tuscaloosa, and it’s a no-brainer which program in the SEC has a leg up on the rest this spring as the conference aims to return to national title contention in 2015.