We’re not even two full weeks removed from National Signing Day, and next year’s signing day is still about a year away. Nevertheless, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next year’s recruiting classes to see how the SEC stacks up and what work needs to be done to continue funneling talent into the conference on all 14 rosters.

With that in mind, here is one player already committed to each SEC schools whom those schools must lock down in the coming year to help boost their programs for the future:

Alabama — Shyheim Carter (5-star CB, Kentwood, La.): Alabama has done plenty this offseason to improve a secondary that appeared vulnerable late in the 2014 season. It gains former five-star signee Marlon Humphrey, who redshirted in 2014, gained an NFL defensive coordinator as its new secondary coach in Mel Tucker and brought back both its starting cornerbacks. Still, you can never have enough depth in the secondary, especially as the SEC grows more and more pass-happy. Carter is the No. 3 cornerback and No. 32 overall talent in the 2016 class with a year remaining before his signing day (according to the 247Sports industry composite rankings), and keeping him away from SEC West rival LSU, which owns recruiting in its home state and is known for developing NFL cornerbacks, will be vital.

Arkansas — Jordan Jones (3-star WR, Smackover, Ark.): This was an easy choice as Jones is the only current commitment in Arkansas’ 2016 class, but he also fills a vital need for the Razorbacks. Bret Bielema loves to run the ball, but that’s not the way major college football is trending. He may be able to keep up by maintaining a style of play that goes against the grain, but ultimately he’s going to need to have some ability to throw the ball to stay in the thick of the highly competitive SEC West, and that’s going to require playmakers on the outside. Jones can be one of those guys. At 6-foot-1, he has size that can allow him to go over top of smaller defenders, especially if he bulks up in the 18 months before he’d even have a chance to debut for the Hogs, and if proves he can block better than other wideouts he could see serious playing time sooner than later.

Auburn — Nate Craig-Myers (5-star WR, Tampa, Fla.): Obviously when you have the No. 1 wide receiver in the class committed to your school, it’s vital that you keep him locked down. But it’s even more vital for a program like Auburn that’s going to lose top receiver D’haquille Williams at the end of the 2015 season one year removed from parting ways with dynamic playmaker Sammie Coates. Craig-Myers can make plays in a variety of ways, and his combination of size and speed is very Williams-esque, which means he should fit Gus Malzahn’s offense well. The Tigers have a few four-star prospects committed, including athlete Stephen Davis Jr., but Malzahn routinely attracts athletes to fit his system, which caters to their skill sets. What he needs is a game-breaking receiver on the outside to keep defenses honest down the field, and Craig-Myers can and one day will provide that.

Florida — Rick Wells (3-star WR, Jacksonville, Fla.): Jim McElwain was hired by Florida in December and immediately hit the ground running trying to piece together an above-average 2015 recruiting class (he succeeded in doing so when all was said and done). Thus, it’s amazing Florida even has a 2016 commitment already lined up, but that’s exactly what it has. Wells is the Gators only current commitment in next year’s class, and while he doesn’t possess the raw abilities of a guy like Craig-Myers who can step in and make plays right away, he’s clearly devoted to UF and to becoming an impact player on the team during his career. If he puts in the work he is athletic enough to be developed into a real threat on the outside, and if he were to maintain this commitment and enroll in school early it would do wonders for the start of his career.

Georgia — Jacob Eason (5-star QB, Lake Stevens, Wash.): Eason is the top quarterback prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2016 class, so it’s not hard to understand why it’s so critical the Dawgs keep him locked up. His pro-style skill set fits the mold of Georgia’s offense perfectly, assuming new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t overhaul too much of the playbook. If Eason is serious about winning at the college level, he can absolutely follow in the footsteps of past Georgia greats like David Greene, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Murray. And considering Georgia didn’t sign a quarterback in its 2015 class and just lost starter Hutson Mason, it could need Eason right away if Brice Ramsey doesn’t get the job done this fall.

Kentucky — Drake Jackson (4-star C, Versailles, Ky.): The Wildcats are looking to make a statement with their 2016 recruiting class, already earning commitments from a pair of four-star offensive line recruits from within the state. Jackson is one of those two in-state products, and he’s the No. 1 center in the class. The Cats struggled along the offensive line in 2014, and brining in a center with this kind of raw talent and ability could benefit the entire unit during Jackson’s career in the Bluegrass. If he steps in right away and can make an impact the way many think he can, he could be the anchor of the line for up to four years the way David Andrews recently was at Georgia or Reese Dismukes was at Auburn.

LSU — Feleipe Franks (4-star QB, New Orleans, La.): The Tigers quarterback troubles in 2014 have been well documented, and they failed to bring in any prospects in the 2015 class who can change that this fall. Anthony Jennings was once a touted recruit himself, and his backup, Brandon Harris, is a former five-star signee in his own right, but neither have panned out in Baton Rouge yet. There’s no guaranteeing Franks will be able to jump them both, but it can never hurt to add a dual-threat quarterback with tremendous athletic ability, especially if your team struggles to air the ball out. If and when Franks arrives at LSU, he’ll be accompanied by a number of explosive wideouts, and by that time Jennings will have one year of eligibility remaining and Harris will have two. Thus, it’s vital the Tigers add Franks to the mix to try and find a way to get production out of the quarterback position.

Mississippi State — Tommy Champion (4-star OT, Jackson, Miss.): Champion was originally a member of MSU’s 2015 recruiting class but will instead spend a year at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss., before making the leap to the FBS. It would be vital for the Bulldogs to maintain his commitment, as Champion is already seen as the top offensive tackle at the junior college level and could arrive in Starkville ready to play right away after a year of seasoning at the JUCO level against larger, more physical athletes than he faced in high school. The class doesn’t live or die on Champion’s commitment, but adding him to an offensive line in flux after losing some key components this offseason would be huge for the future of Mississippi State’s offense.

Missouri — N/A: No 2016 commits as of Feb. 17.

Ole Miss — Shea Patterson (5-star QB, Shreveport, La.): Patterson just committed to Ole Miss on Tuesday afternoon and got immediate positive feedback from fans and media members alike. He could fill a huge need at the quarterback position for Ole Miss, who said goodbye to three-year starter Bo Wallace after the 2014 season. Chad Kelly is the likely replacement, but he only has two years of eligibility remaining, meaning at best he can lead the offense through the 2016 campaign. Ryan Buchanan and Devante Kincade failed to impress as redshirt freshmen last season, and if Patterson develops nicely upon arriving in Oxford he could be the future face of the offense, which is why its critical Ole Miss keep him onboard until then.

South Carolina — Brandon McIlwain (4-star QB, Newtown, Penn.): It may be tougher to make a prediction about South Carolina’s 2016 class than any other in the SEC considering the Gamecocks suffered nine decommitments in the months leading up to this year’s signing day, and considering Steve Spurrier isn’t getting any younger. But if asked to name a commitment it is critical for South Carolina to lock down, McIlwain is that guy. Carolina faces serious questions as to whom its next starting quarterback will be, and if the answer in 2015 doesn’t pan out McIlwain might be thrust into action sooner than expected. His dual-threat abilities could allow him to mirror some of the things Connor Shaw used to do (Shaw wasn’t a true dual-threat but the dude could move around), especially if he puts in the time and work studying film and finding a niche in the offense early in his career.

Tennessee — Marquill Osborne (4-star CB, Cornelius, N.C.): Tennessee is another program loading up with four-star commitments in its 2016 class, earning commitments from six players a year removed from signing day, four of which are four-stars. Osborne is one of those guys, and he plays a position that Tennessee isn’t desperate to reinforce now, but might be by the time Osborne’s signing day approaches. The Vols will only have their two starting safeties for one more season, and they won’t have many of their top corners for much longer than that, meaning Osborne could become the face of the UT secondary early in his career if he follows through on his commitment and lands in Knoxville. He’s not quite 6-feet tall but runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, which proves he possesses top-flight speed allowing him to do real damage in the SEC.

Texas A&M — Gregory Little (5-star OT, Allen, Texas): Little is an in-state product and the No. 1 overall talent in the 2016 recruiting class, so adding him to the mix in College Station would be huge for Kevin Sumlin and his staff. Dominant offensive tackles are a rare breed that rarely ever fails to pan out at the college level, and few schools, if any, have produced the amount of NFL offensive line talent that A&M has in recent years. Little seems destined to one day play at the pro level, and A&M could be the perfect school for him to grow into the pro he hopes to be. Furthermore, he could help keep his quarterback’s blindside clean while playing in one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the nation during his collegiate career.

Vanderbilt — N/A: No 2016 commits as of Feb. 17.