In the summer, SEC fans analyze and re-analyze the two deep depth-charts of their team’s offense and defense.

It is tempting to overlook the forgotten little brother, special teams.

But the kicking and return game can spring those extra few plays a year that make a difference between a champion and an also-ran, or between bowl-eligible and bowl-ineligible.

Just ask Alabama, which won the national championship in no small part because of a gutsy onside kick.

With that in mind, let’s look at a potential special teams difference maker to watch for each SEC East squad.

Florida

PK Eddy Pineiro

Florida was awful in the kicking game in 2015, going just 7-for- 17 on field goals. They somehow won the East anyway. So forgive Gator fans if the strong-legged Pineiro, a JUCO transfer with no actual game experience, has them excited.

Apr 8, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators kicker Eddy Pineiro (15) celebrates after hitting a 56 yard field goal in the fourth quarter during the Orange and Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Blue won 38-6. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

In the spring game, he connected from 46, 52, and 56 yards. It’s a long way from a scrimmage to the battles of the SEC, but if Pineiro can replicate that success with the lights on, coach Jim McElwain may well have cause for more celebrating in 2016.

Georgia

PR/KR Isaiah McKenzie

Georgia will have a new kicker and perhaps a new punter, so it is probably in the return game that the Dawgs will hope to sizzle. Reggie Davis got more work on kicks in 2015, with McKenzie mainly handling punts, but each is an explosive star with plenty of highlights already in their SEC careers.

Nov 14, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs receiver Isaiah McKenzie (16) gets help from linebacker D'Andre Walker (15) and returns a punt for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Bulldogs beat the Tigers 20-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

In 2015, McKenzie brought back two punts for scores, and he had two punt returns and a kick return for TDs in 2014.

Kirby Smart will need McKenzie to be more consistent, and to do a better job of avoiding turnovers or negative plays. If McKenzie can replicate his 2014 and 2015 success, and perhaps do so with a bit more consistency, he might be All-SEC, and Georgia might win the East.

Kentucky

PK Austin MacGinnis

MacGinnis set school field goal records in 2014, connecting on 21 tries, including a school-record 54-yarder against Tennessee. A midseason hamstring injury shortened his 2015 campaign.

Sep 5, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats kicker Austin MacGinnis (99) kicks a field goal during the game against the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated Louisiana Lafayette 40-33. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

He was still 13-of- 17, but didn’t have the leg strength that he showed the previous season. Aside from his significance in placekicking, MacGinnis has been solid on kickoffs. In 2014, MacGinnis had 25 touchbacks out of 67 kickoffs. In 2015, with his injury woes, he still had 14 touchbacks on 37 kicks.

Backup Miles Butler managed just two in 25 tries. For the Wildcats to reach bowl eligibility in 2016, they need MacGinnis booming field goals and kickoffs.

Missouri

P Corey Fatony

It’s not a news flash that Mizzou sports a tough defense (5th nationally in scoring in 2015) and an equally awful offense (126th nationally in scoring in 2015). Accordingly, Fatony, who spent 2015 booming 81 punts at an average of 42.9 yards per kick, is an important part of Mizzou’s recipe for success.

He was a freshman All-American, and if he can avoid the sophomore jinx and keep pinning opposing offenses, Mizzou could cobble together a successful 2016 campaign.

South Carolina

PK Elliott Fry

Senior kicker Fry is second on the Gamecocks’ career scoring list, despite playing three seasons for a head coach who regarded kickers as a necessary evil. Considering the abundance of veterans on defense, and the lack of playmakers on offense, here’s guessing that new Gamecock boss Will Muschamp will be glad to deploy Fry on field goals early and often.

Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks place kicker Elliott Fry (29) kicks a field goal during the game between the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

For his career, Fry has hit 81 percent of his tries inside 50 yards, and stands likely to get lots of tries in 2016. If the defense can throttle down on opposing offenses, some of those tries may just bring about Gamecocks victories and a return to bowl eligibility.

Tennessee

KR Evan Berry

Butch Jones’s tenure at UT has been marked by an increased emphasis on special teams, and Berry is one of the more obvious stars who has benefitted from that emphasis.

Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Evan Berry (29) runs the ball back for 100 yard touchdown during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did Berry lead the SEC, but he literally was a single total yard shy of setting a new national kick return average record. His three scores and 38.3 yards per return average means that Tennessee will get great field position in 2016, either from teams pooching kicks or having to kick to Berry and hold their breath.

If UT gets back to the top of the SEC in 2016, Evan Berry will be in the middle of that return (no pun intended).

Vanderbilt

KR Darrius Sims

Sims is a threat everywhere for the Commodores. Early in his career, he was a heady nickel back on defense, and has been featured as a ball carrier and a receiver on offense. But his game-breaking speed is best displayed on kick returns. In 2014, Sims averaged almost 25 yards per kick return, and took a pair of kicks to the house against South Carolina.

Sep 27, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores defensive back Darrius Sims (6) warms up prior to the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Last season was disappointing as a returner, though he was Vandy’s second-leading rusher, and it’s not like he has forgotten how to make a big play.

But if the senior can return to 2014 form on kick returns (and maybe add punt return duties), Vandy’s uphill battle to compete in the East just got much easier.