Spring practice is a time for programs to turn their attention to a new season, to regroup, to reorganize and most importantly to begin building from the previous season to the next.

But spring practice does not mark the official start of a new season. It’s bonus practice time, which can be invaluable for early enrollees, first-time starters or players coming off a redshirt season. But not every player is present for spring ball, limiting how much a team can do with the extra time.

Most signees from the previous recruiting cycle do not enroll early to take part in spring practice, and players with injuries are often asked to take the cautious approach during the spring, which normally involves watching from the sidelines.

Some spring absences loom larger than others as teams gear up for a new season come the fall. This spring is certainly no exception. With that in mind, here are five best players from the SEC East you won’t be reading about this spring season:

5. Cece Jefferson, DE, Florida: Jefferson’s recruitment was the most dramatic of any star from the class of 2015, but the dust has since settled and Jefferson is officially a Florida Gator poised to join the team this fall. His services may be needed right away in 2015 as Florida aims to replace star defensive linemen like Dante Fowler and Leon Orr in a transition away from Will Muschamp’s defensive system and into Geoff Collins’ Psycho Defense scheme.

Collins loves to give different looks with his front seven to maintain unpredictability in his defensive front, and Jefferson’s athleticism seems like the perfect fit for the scheme. However, it will take some learning first, and Jefferson’s inability to learn the system with his new Florida teammates this fall may hold him back come training camp, which could in turn limit the entire defensive line as Jefferson grows into his role.

4. Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri: Beckner is a five-star product who headlines a recruiting class featuring only two other members rated better than three stars by 247Sports. It’s obvious he’s the most talented newcomer on the roster and he may already be one of the team’s five greatest raw talents despite his lack of collegiate experience.

He’ll join one of the deepest groups of defensive tackles in the SEC at Missouri, but a potential move to a 3-4 system could allow three of those tackles to play at once along the defensive line. No coach in America produces more NFL defensive line talent than Missouri’s Craig Kuligowski, who will almost surely mold Beckner into a future all-conference performer. If only he had Beckner for the spring, then Mizzou’s defensive line would really be among the best in all the nation when Week 1 arrives in September.

3. Trent Thompson, DT, Georgia: For a player regarded as one of the three best at any position in the class of 2015 by virtually every recruiting service out there, Thompson has gotten very little publicity since signing with the Bulldogs earlier this offseason. Perhaps that’s because he’s a Georgia native who didn’t take much of a leap signing with his home-state Dawgs; perhaps it’s because he committed to Georgia so early in the process (August of last year).

Either way, nothing has changed regarding Thompson’s talent or the impact he may have at UGA this fall. He already possesses SEC size at 6-foot-3 and 313 pounds, and he has a quick, explosive first step that allows him to leverage his strength and power at the point of attack. He’s someone who can at least break into Georgia’s defensive line rotation and wear down opposing linemen even in a reserve role, but his absence this spring may hold back his development as he chases a starting job.

2. Martez Ivey, OT, Florida: Ivey was not just the No. 1 overall prospect from the 2015 class in the eyes of most recruiting services; he’s a can’t-miss offensive tackle signee who could earn a starting role right away for a team in transition in the Florida Gators. Not only is Florida learning a new offensive system under new head coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, but it’s learning to compensate without five offensive linemen from last year’s team, four of which were good enough to earn invites to the annual NFL Draft combine in Indianapolis.

And considering Florida’s lack of answers at the quarterback position, it will be imperative the Gators at least keep their signal caller’s blindside clean as they aim to build from a seven-win season a year ago. Ivey should be the man tasked with protecting the blindside, meaning he’ll need to get himself up to speed quickly this fall.

1. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee: The Volunteers’ standout pass rusher was one of two SEC freshmen to break Jadeveon Clowney’s rookie sack record a year ago (Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett was the other), and he appears poised to return with even more to prove in 2015. His 10 sacks tied him for fourth in the conference and 16th in the entire nation last season, and that was while Barnett battled a learning curve as an SEC rookie (he was second in the nation in sacks among freshmen behind only Garett’s 11.5).

Upon factoring in the five different four- or five-star defensive line signees added in the most recent recruiting cycle, as well as returning edge rushers Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Curt Maggitt, there will be almost no way to consistently double-team Barnett, which should allow him to improve his numbers even more in 2015.