We’re a long way from National Signing Day 2016, but many of the SEC’s top recruiters have been targeting the top players in this class for months now.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, the Top 10 players in the class from the state of Texas include five linemen and the top three safeties in the nation for the 2016 class.

The site predicts all three, five-star Brandon Jones (Texas A&M), five-star Eric Monroe (LSU) and four-star Deontay Anderson (Texas A&M), will sign with SEC schools in February.

The Aggies, which languished in the secondary the last several years, suddenly could find themselves with an overload of talent at the position if both Jones and Anderson sign with the team. Armani Watts, a true sophomore during the 2015 season, projects as a developing star. The team signed JUCO safety Justin Evans in February in addition to two four-star high school seniors.

RELATED: Texas A&M could end up with No. 1 recruit in 2016

Recruiting in the state of Texas is as difficult as ever. Texas A&M is a major player. Texas is pointed toward a return to prominence with Charlie Strong. TCU and Baylor are perennial championship contenders right now. Houston (Tom Herman, formerly Ohio State) and SMU (Chad Morris, formerly Clemson) have two energetic, hot young new coaches.

Last year, just four of the 10 best recruits from the state stayed in Texas. A&M landed two — Daylon Mack and Kyler Murray — while Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU each got a piece.

This year, both of the two already is committed — five-star offensive tackle Gregory Little, who says he’s going to Texas A&M, and five-star offensive tackle Patrick Hudson, who says he’s going to Baylor — plan to stay in the Lone Star State. The remaining eight players could be divided between Texas, Texas A&M and LSU, with four-star TE Kaden Smith projected as the lone Pac-12 defector.

Last year’s state-of-Texas class finished with five different five-star players, the same number projected for this year’s class.

Player Rating Position 247 Sports Prediction
1. Gregory Little 5-star OT Texas A&M*
2. Patrick Hudson 5-star OT Baylor*
3. Brandon Jones 5-star S Texas A&M
4. Ed Oliver 5-star DT LSU
5. Eric Monroe 5-star S LSU
6. Deontay Anderson 4-star S Texas A&M
7. Devin Duvernay 4-star WR Texas
8. Kendell Jones 4-star DT Texas
9. Kaden Smith 4-star TE Stanford
10. Erick Fowler 4-star DE Texas

*Already committed.