The epic recruiting battles of the SEC draw coaches around the region and nation on a week-to-week if not day-to-day basis. But sometimes, geography and recruiting needs align, and coaches find themselves keeping in-state kids at home. Here are three home state heroes per East team who are likely to be important contributors in 2016.

Florida

DE Bryan Cox, Jr.: Cox, the son of an NFL legend, hails from Fort Lauderdale and played his high school ball at St. Thomas Aquinas. A second-team all-SEC preseason pick, Cox had 45 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2015.

OG Martez Ivey: Ivey played his prep ball at Apopka High. A U.S. Army All-American Bowl pick out of high school, he was all-SEC freshman and was chosen second team all-SEC this summer.

OT David Sharpe: Another U.S. Army All-American pick, Sharpe hailed from nearby Jacksonville and Fletcher High. At 6-6, 357 pounds, he is hard to beat on the line, and has earned second team All-SEC selection heading into his junior season.

Georgia

RB Nick Chubb: One of the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy, Chubb hails from Cedartown, and played his high school football at Cedartown High. Despite missing half of last season due to injury, the preseason first team All-SEC back has already amassed almost 2,300 rushing yards in two years as a Dawg.

C Brandon Kublanow: Kublanow, who was second team All-SEC, has started 26 games in his past two seasons. He hails from Marietta and is a product of Walton High. Kublanow won a spring effort award each of the past two seasons and a huge part of the Dawgs’ running success.

DB Dominick Sanders: The second team All-SEC selection hails from Tucker, and did his prep work at Tucker High. Sanders has nine interceptions in two seasons and has scored a pair of touchdowns as a Bulldog. He has 82 tackles and 16 pass break ups for his career.

Kentucky

QB Drew Barker: With the early departure of Patrick Towles, the highly-touted Barker finds himself being the trigger man for the UK offense in 2016. Barker was 35 for 70 for 364 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions in 2015. He hails from Burlington, and played for Conner High School.

DT Matt Elam: Elam has been listed at 6-7, 360 pounds, and is from Elizabethtown, where he starred for John Hardin High. In two seasons at UK, Elam has just 33 tackles, but he is counted on to lead the defensive line in 2016.

WR Ryan Timmons: Timmons was a highly regarded recruit from Frankfort and nearby Franklin County High. After leading UK in receiving for two years, he fell off in 2015, catching just 12 passes. But he played well in the spring, and looks likely to enhance his career numbers of 89 catches, 988 yards, and five touchdowns.

Missouri

DE Charles Harris: Harris is from Kansas City and played at Lincoln Prep School. A second team All-SEC pick, he had 7.0 sacks, 11.5 additional tackles for loss, and 10 QB hurries in 2015. Harris continues the tradition of talented Tiger defensive ends and will have to do even more without Walter Brady.

LB Michael Scherer: The senior linebacker comes from St. Louis and Country Day High. He has 213 tackles in his Mizzou career, including 93 stops in 2015, with nine tackles for loss.

CB Aarion Penton: Penton is another St. Louis recruit, but he played for Christian Brothers School. Has 19 pass break ups in three years as a Tiger, including eight last season, when he also had 59 tackles.

South Carolina

WR Deebo Samuel: The top returning receiver, Samuel is likely to be relied on heavily in 2016. He hails from Inman and played at Chapman High. Had 12 catches for 161 yards last year.

DE Marquavius Lewis: The incredibly talented Lewis is a JUCO transfer, but he is from nearby Greenwood, and played his high school ball for Greenwood High. In 2015, he had 45 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

OL Mason Zandi: The 6-9, 315-pound Zandi started 10 games at tackle last season, and is primed to start again this season. He hails from Chapin, and matriculated from Chapin High. Played some tight end as a freshman at USC.

Tennessee

DE Derek Barnett: The Volunteers nabbed Barnett from Nashville and Brentwood Academy, and in two seasons, he has amassed 141 tackles, 20 sacks, and 33 tackles for loss. Barnett has arrived as a first team All-SEC selection in 2016, and may make a run at Reggie White’s Vol sack record.

LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin: Another preseason first team All-SEC pick, Reeves-Maybin came to UT from Clarksville, where he starred at Northeast High. He has topped 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons, and has amassed 25 tackles for loss during that period. Little surprise Reeves-Maybin was named a captain in 2016.

RB Jalen Hurd: A star for Hendersonville’s Beech Senior High, Hurd ended up a Vol and could make major waves in college football in 2016. Second-team All-SEC only because he has the misfortune to play in a conference with two guys named Chubb and Leonard Fournette, Hurd has 2,187 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on the ground in two seasons. A dark horse for the Heisman, Hurd is a key to the Vols’ SEC title hopes.

Vanderbilt

C Barrett Gouger: Senior leader from Soddy-Daisy and Baylor High School who had 44 pancake blocks in 2015 as a starting guard. Gouger is helping Ralph Webb (Gainesville, Fla.) make a run at Vandy’s career rushing mark.

CB Tre Herndon: Hernon, who is from Chattanooga and East Hamilton High, started all 12 games in 2015, and had 47 tackles and broke up four passes. Along with Torren McGaster, he gives Vandy a pair of solid veteran corners.

S Emmanuel Smith: Smith, who was a highly regarded prospect from Mursfreesboro, and who teamed up with his brother Josh (who is a Vandy linebacker) at Oakland High, has just 13 tackles in two seasons. Number aside, though, he has the potential to be a key contributor for Vandy.