The value of senior leadership on a college football team can never go understated. It matters so much, right up there with talent itself.

There’s plenty of turnover in the SEC, but here’s a key senior expected to lead the way next year for each team:

Alabama – Jonathan Allen, DL: Allen surprised most folks by deciding to stick around for his senior year because many mock drafts had him as a potential late first-round pick this year. But now that he’s back in Tuscaloosa, it eases concerns in that front seven quite a bit. The original fear that everyone would be gone didn’t come to fruition, and that’s a good thing. Look for that Alabama defense to be stout once again.

Arkansas Keon Hatcher, WR:  Hatcher was expecting to have a huge 2015 season but he broke a bone in his foot in Week 2 and missed the rest of the year, His coming back is big, because the Razorbacks have plenty of weapons at the wideout position and should be able to move the ball well through the air, even with a new quarterback coming in to replace the graduated Brandon Allen.

Auburn – Carl Lawson, DE: Auburn coaches have to be thrilled that Lawson decided to come back for another year. The numbers when he was on the field compared to the time he missed with a hip injury were off the charts. Auburn gave up nearly 100 yards a game more when he was out. With Lawson and Montravius Adams both coming back, it gives the Tigers hope for being better on defense in 2016. They need it.

Florida – Jarrad Davis, LB: The hard-hitting linebacker had a great junior season in helping the Gators win the SEC East. Davis deciding to stick around for another year was never a given, so Florida is glad to have him back. The SEC East is going to be competitive next year and the Gators must be thrilled to still have Davis in the fold. He’s a leader.

Georgia – Quincy Mauger, S: Mauger is a veteran and he’s the guy all those young kids in the Georgia locker room look up to. He’s excited about getting a defensive coach on board with Kirby Smart and look for Mauger to step up his game even further once Smart institutes his process in Athens.

Kentucky – Jason Hatcher, LB: Hatcher has a world of talent but he missed some time in 2015 due to a suspension and then a high ankle sprain. The Wildcats need him on the field in 2016 because he provides a lot of toughness and big hits from his LB position. Look for a big year out of him. The Wildcats’ hopes of making a bowl hinge on a big year from Hatcher.

LSU – Kendall Beckwith, LB: The Tigers have been one of those teams that’s perennially lost all their good juniors to the NFL but this year most of them are coming back, which is great news for coach Les Miles. Beckwith is the anchor of that LSU defense and his return is huge because LB was a weak spot in terms of the numbers. Getting DE Lewis Neal and CB Tre’Davious White back was also a pleasant surprise. That LSU defense could be really good next year with all that veteran talent.

Mississippi State – Fred Ross, WR: Ross will lose his quarterback (Dak Prescott) and his running mate (Derunnya Wilson), but he should still be productive on the outside. Ross had a 1,00-yard season, one of just four SEC receivers to do so, and looks to do even more in 2016. Ross finished the regular season with four-straight 100-yard games and you can expect that kind of consistency next year as well.

Missouri – Maty Mauk, QB: Mauk had a fall to forget in 2015, getting in trouble twice and basically missing the entire season due to suspensions. Mauk has been reinstated by first-year coach Barry Odom and he swears he’s going to stay out of trouble now, which is good. The Tigers need him to energize their struggling offense, which ground to a halt last year in Mauk’s absence.

Ole Miss – Chad Kelly, QB: Kelly threw for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns last year for the Rebels in his first full season of top-level college football. He’s back for more, looking to improve on 2015’s 10-3 record. Kelly should have a huge year. He loses his top target (Laquon Treadwell) but the Rebels have plenty of returning talent at wide receiver and tight end. Don’t be surprised if Kelly doesn’t top last year’s numbers.

South Carolina – Skai Moore, LB: It looked like Moore was off to the NFL, so his return in great news for new coach Will Muschamp and he Gamecocks. Moore has led South Carolina in tackles for three years in a row and is a do-it-all linebacker who should love playing for the defense-oriented Muschamp. He had 111 tackles last year.

Tennessee – Joshua Dobbs, QB: Dobbs has started 22 games for Tennessee over the past there years, the most of any returning SEC starter. His experience is going to come in handy next year because the Vols are entering the season with a ton of hype. It’s going to be critical to have that veteran leadership from Dobbs. He’s capable of making big plays, which is one of many reasons why people are picking the Vols to win the SEC East next year. It helps a lot have defensive standout Jalen Reeves-Maybin back in the fold, too.

Texas A&M – Daeshon Hall, DE: Having Hall back gives the Aggies the best one/two punch at defensive end in the league when he gets paired up with Myles Garrett. Hall was fifth in the SEC with 14 tackles for loss and seventh in the conference with seven sacks. Hall and Garrett force a lot of game-planning from opposing coaches and with another year under their belt, they are going to be dangerous.

Vanderbilt – Adam Butler, DL: Butler is a force on that tough Vandy defensive line. He’s huge for one, at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, and he can do it all. He’s a great run-stopper and he can also get to the quarterback. Vanderbilt’s defense was very good in 2015 and carried this teams as far as it could take it. Expect more big things out Butler in 2016.