Their arrivals in August don’t always generate the same kind of headlines or giddy anticipation among the faithful as that which awaited their peers who enrolled in January.

But that doesn’t mean that summer arrivals must be resigned to sitting the bench or ready to accept limited roles when the college football season kicks off in September.

Here are a few SEC newcomers who figure to be in the mix by the season opener:

Ole Miss — OT Gregory Little

A former five-star prospect, Little (6-5 ½, 305 pounds) was considered the No. 1 offensive tackle in the Class of 2016 and had previously committed to Texas A&M before jumping ship and agreeing to head to Oxford.

The departure of Laremy Tunsil to the NFL means that Little is a good bet to be in the starting lineup from Day 1.

The question for now is: left tackle or right tackle?

Alabama — ILB Ben Davis

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound former five-star prospect was the highest-rated player in a 24-man Alabama recruiting class that ranked tops in the nation.

Unlike running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs, inside linebacker isn’t a position that usually sees true freshman play from the outset because of the necessary physical strength and high football IQ needed to consistently play the position at a high level.

But Davis is that good and will be competing at the same position manned so ably by former All-American Reggie Ragland, who’s off to the NFL. Davis figures to have prominent role in the Crimson Tide defense by the time the reigning national champions open up in Texas against USC on Sept. 3.

LSU — DT Rashard Lawrence

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound former five-star prospect may have been the crown jewel in an exceptional LSU recruiting class and has the potential to be the next great Tigers interior defensive lineman.

He was the No. 23-ranked player in the class, according to 247Sports.com’s composite.

Powerful, yet exceptionally quick, Lawrence has been favorably compared to former LSU stars Glenn Dorsey and Booger McFarland among others.

He’s the nephew of former LSU linebacker Oliver Lawrence, who played in the 1980s and still holds the school’s single season sack record with 12.

Georgia — RB Elijah Holyfield and ATH Mecole Hardman, Jr.

Holyfield, a former four-star prospect and the son of former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, is a talented running back who lacks breakaway speed, but is capable of running inside effectively.

His presence will come as welcome news for a Dawgs team that lacks depth at tailback as Nick Chubb continues to recover from a knee injury. A five-star athlete, Hardman was a late addition to new Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class, but could break into the lineup right away at cornerback and possibly see action at wide receiver as well.

Auburn — DT Derrick Brown

The Tigers scored a major coup when they edged Georgia and landed the services of the former five-star prospect who ranked as the state of Georgia’s top defensive line prospect.

Brown was ranked No. 4 nationally among defensive tackles, one spot ahead of Lawrence.

A mesmerizing blend of size and speed at just under 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, Brown figures to make a difference for the Tigers from the outset.

Mississippi State — DE Jeffery Simmons

The 6-foot-3 ½, 277-pound Simmons became just the second five-star prospect to opt to sign with Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen.

Many observers had instead expected the top-ranked player in Mississippi to sign with Ole Miss, but the Bulldogs won his services.

Missouri — RB Natereace Strong

RB Russell Hansbrough was among the few bright spots last year for a Tigers team that was severely lacking in offensive play-makers.

With Hansbrough gone, Strong, a four-star prospect, could be the guy asked to shoulder much of the offensive load for Missouri this year.

Powerfully built at 6-foot-, 210 pounds, the former Hines (Miss.) Community College star will likely get the first crack at filling Hanbrough’s shoes this fall.