SEC territory is fertile recruiting country. So it should be little surprise that NFL rosters are littered with players from the South.

The Detroit News published revealing information that showed 28.7 percent of players on an NFL roster at last season’s end came from high schools in either Florida (11.7 percent), Texas (10.1) or Georgia (6.9). Florida led all states in the category with 213 players, Texas was third with 184 and Georgia fourth with 125. California was second with 207 and Ohio fifth with 88.

The complete findings are worth a read, because they show why major college coaches flock to certain states more often than others in search of talent.

There’s a strong chance many future stars on Sundays will have had their start under Friday-night lights in the South.