Injuries play a huge factor in every season. It’s why we hear coaches preach about depth and building up numbers. Even so, a key injury could turn a promising season into something much worse.

Georgia and LSU experienced some of that last season. Nick Chubb’s injury ended the Bulldogs’ SEC title hopes. LSU was rocking along with a 7-0 record and a Heisman Trophy frontrunner in the backfield, and bam: injuries to the fullback, tight end, and offensive line, decimated what was a machine of a running game. The Tigers lost three straight games and nearly lost their coach in the process.

The 2016 season is marked with specific players who must remain healthy in order to give their respective teams the full opportunity to compete in the toughest conference in the country. Here are but 10 such players:

Auburn DE Carl Lawson: The Auburn defense sorely missed Lawson’s presence last season. But the hip injury that sidelined the Tigers’ team captain for six games appears to be healed. He played in the final few games of the regular season and then recorded three tackles in Auburn’s Birmingham Bowl victory over Memphis. Lawson was injured and missed all of the 2014 season. Keeping him healthy will be key in Auburn’s surge back to the top of the SEC West.

Georgia RB Nick Chubb: In six games last season, prior to a season-ending knee injury at Tennessee, Chubb rushed for 747 yards and seven touchdowns. He had tied the school record with 13 consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Chubb’s healthy return is vital to the success of a Georgia team beginning a new era under first-year head coach Kirby Smart.

Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly: He’s the only experienced quarterback the Rebels have. It’s practically and all-or-nothing situation at Ole Miss. With Kelly, the Rebels can compete for an SEC West title. Without him, the Shea Patterson era starts earlier than Hugh Freeze wants. Kelly is the only quarterback in Ole Miss history to beat Alabama, Auburn and LSU in the same season. Yes, he’s that important.

LSU RB Leonard Fournette: Backup Derrius Guice is a threat in his own right and likely will assume a larger role in 2016, but LSU’s offense revolves around Fournette running — and the threat of Fournette running. He enters 2016 as a Heisman favorite after rushing for a school-record 1,953 yards last season.

Florida DB Jalen Tabor: The All-SEC cornerback was part of a shutdown tandem last season. Now he moves into CB1 status and leader for a Gators’ defense that lost three key contributors from the secondary.

Tennessee RB Jalen Hurd: There was some concern during spring practice of tendinitis. Hurd was limited somewhat this spring by the injury but it’s not thought to be serious. Hurd led the Vols in rushing with 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. For the Vols to reach their potential and challenge for an SEC East title and more, Hurd must remain a staple in the Tennessee backfield.

Vanderbilt RB Ralph Webb: He not only was among the SEC’s most productive backs last season, finishing seventh with 1,152 yards, he did so with less help. He was the SEC’s lone 1,000-yard rusher on a losing team. Vanderbilt isn’t a contender in 2016, but Webb remains their best offensive player.

Alabama OT Cam Robinson: A shoulder injury suffered last season kept Robinson out of spring practice, but the “alpha dog,” as Nick Saban called him, has come back from injuries in the past. In fact he played last season with the injured shoulder after spraining his knee in the spring of 2015. Robinson is a must-have in a retooled offensive line this season.

LSU OG Will Clapp: A hip injury kept LSU’s projected starter at guard on the sidelines this spring. It is expected that rehab would follow surgery and that Clapp would be ready for fall camp. No one has to be reminded of how important a healthy offensive line is at LSU.

Mississippi State WR Fred Ross: Surgery on a groin issue sidelined Ross from spring practice, setting back the Bulldogs’ passing game even farther. Ross led the team last season with 88 catches for 1,007 yards and five touchdowns. His absence was felt as the Bulldogs look to break in a new quarterback. He must be healthy in the fall to help ease in the new signal-caller.