Five of the seven SEC West teams hired a coordinator since the season ended.

National Signing Day always is significant, but for the 2015 season, these five hires may be just as, if not more, important. How does each of the hires grade out?

TEXAS A&M DEFENSE: JOHN CHAVIS

Grade: A

The Aggies broke out the piggybank to hoist one of the most successful coordinators in the country after he spent six years at LSU. A&M is among the few programs that can afford to make a coordinator a multimillionaire. Chavis isn’t a recruiter, but again, the Aggies aren’t struggling in that department. Coach Kevin Sumlin is going to keep points on the board and talent on the roster, but now the team has a certified All-Star coaching up the defense. There weren’t many home-run hires available at defensive coordinator, but the Aggies created one from thin air.

AUBURN DEFENSE: WILL MUSCHAMP

Grade: A

The only downside to this hire for the Tigers is the price tag. Auburn is more or less paying the salary of two head coaches, even though Muschamp no longer is a head man. But in addition to being more than capable of righting the ship on defense, Muschamp is an A-list recruiter already familiar with the program. Most think he’ll get another chance at being a head coach someday, but the Tigers should be true national contenders on an annual basis with a Muschamp-run defense and a Gus Malzahn-run offense.

ARKANSAS OFFENSE: DAN ENOS

Grade: B+

It’s not often one can convince a head coach to quit his job to coach your offense, particularly when your offense isn’t exactly Oregon’s or TCU’s. But that’s exactly what Bret Bielema did with Enos, who left his post at Central Michigan. The Chippewas underperformed under Enos, but the last time out, you may remember his furious comeback in the Bahamas Bowl, in which CMU trailed 49-14 well into the fourth quarter. Enos got his team within 49-48, then couldn’t convert a two-point conversion that would’ve won the game. The Razorbacks will remain a power running team that deploys play-action, usually to the tight ends, but Enos’ job will be to make the unit more explosive.

MISSISSIPPI STATE DEFENSE: MANNY DIAZ

Grade: B

Diaz flamed out at Texas under less than ideal circumstances, but has put together an otherwise-strong career. He excelled in 2010, his one previous season at Mississippi State, executing a strong turnaround. Last season, he arrived at Louisiana Tech and guided the Bulldogs defense to a strong season, proving he doesn’t need a long time to install his system. But Mississippi State is losing eight starters from last year’s defense, which already was vulnerable to the run. Diaz will have his hands full in ’15, but overall he’s a good, safe hire for the program. It’s hard to imagine the team doing much better.

LSU DEFENSE: KEVIN STEELE

Grade: C+

All due respect to the man, but going from Chavis to Steele is a clear downgrade. Although he’s a strong recruiter — as is new defensive line coach Ed Orgeron — teaching isn’t Steele’s strong suit, historically. He didn’t fare very well at Baylor as a head coach, although that was before the Bears were a strong program. And he mostly worked behind Nick Saban and Kirby Smart at Alabama outside of recruiting season, his title changing annually, with a four-year detour to Clemson mixed in. It’s not that Steele can’t coach, but the Tigers just watched one of the most established and successful defensive coordinators in the country walk on them. LSU will continue to rake in defensive talent, as Wednesday’s National Signing Day proved. Will player development lag?