Every year, stars emerge at the running back position. Former backups, low-usage players and formerly heralded recruits oftentimes step up into starring roles, either as part-timers or starters in their team’s backfield.

With a host of touted incoming players from both the high school and junior college ranks, the SEC won’t lack for new stars at the position. Today, though, we’ll look at returning players set to go from backfield afterthought or under-the-radar performer to full-fledged household name this fall.

Kenyan Drake, Alabama

Before breaking his leg against Ole Miss last season, Drake was a third wheel in Alabama’s backfield. He was getting about 4.4 carries per game and was much more threatening as a receiver (five catches, 159 yards, two touchdowns). With T.J. Yeldon now in the NFL and a slew of Alabama running backs either injured or no longer with the program, Drake becomes one of the most vital players on the Crimson Tide offense. He’ll be in line for carries behind Derrick Henry while also operating as a receiving threat, either out of the backfield or lined up out wide. With a nose for the end zone (six touchdowns on 27 offensive touches last year), Drake has major breakout potential.

Kelvin Taylor, Florida

Taylor has gotten a fair amount of work over his first two years at Florida, totaling 227 carries for 1,073 yards and 10 scores. Both of those seasons came while playing behind another back, and with Matt Jones now gone to the NFL, Taylor will have to serve as a workhorse in the Gators backfield. With a makeshift offensive line, no starting quarterback yet (although redshirt freshman Will Grier is considered the favorite) and an inexperienced receiving corps, the Gators will rely on Taylor to carry the offense this fall in Jim McElwain’s first season.

Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky

Playing in a crowded backfield for a middling team last year, Boom rose above the rest of his Wildcat teammates as the most explosive player on the team and one of the most exciting players in the conference. Williams’ first career touchdown came on a 53-yard run, a theme that would continue throughout his freshman year. After Braylon Heard left school and JoJo Kemp fell out of favor, it appears it’ll be the sophomore’s job to carry the load out of Kentucky’s backfield.

Jaylen Walton, Ole Miss

The Rebels running game wasn’t much to look at last season, not with a shoddy offensive line and a pass-heavy scheme. With all five offensive line starters back (hopefully all healthy by fall), Robert Conyers and touted early enrollee Javon Patterson adding depth and the potential for a dual-threat quarterback in Chad Kelly or Devante Kincade, Walton will have all the tools in front of him needed to break out this fall. That’s especially true with two contenders for the job, I’Tavius Mathers and Mark Dodson, both transferring. The 5-foot-8 Walton has big-play ability like former Ole Miss star Jeff Scott, and the offense will be able to use Walton to change things up as the Rebels air it out again this fall.

Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt

Last year’s group of freshmen running backs was loaded, headlined by Nick Chubb, Leonard Fournette and Jalen Hurd. Overshadowed in all that was Ralph Webb, who set Vanderbilt’s freshman rushing record with 907 yards and was the only consistent option for the Commodores offense. With the majority of Vanderbilt’s front line returning, more stability at quarterback and a year of maturity from Webb, he could easily join the 1,000-yard club and make some noise in Vandy’s SEC slate.