The primary objective for the SEC’s best returning players this spring was to get through it unscathed.

For the most part, they did.

There were tweaks and pulls and practices missed, but nothing so serious that will impact their ability to play on opening day.

With that in mind, here are the SEC’s top 5 Heisman Trophy contenders coming out of spring practice.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

He’s an obvious No. 1 as he held that position for much of last season before running into Alabama. Oddly, LSU may lean on him less next season than this past season.

Part of that is Derrius Guice’s emergence as a legitimate weapon, rather than an occasional relief option. But the biggest part is the necessary change in offensive philosophy that will put the ball in the air more than in Fournette’s belly.

Whether those promised adjustments are more talk and reality remain to be seen, but as good as Fournette is, it’s difficult to envision him getting enough carries to chase 2,000 yards.

As long as LSU is winning, smart voters won’t mind.

2. Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss

Kelly missed part of the spring after having surgery to repair a sports hernia, but the expectation is he’ll be ready to return for the start of fall camp.

That means he’ll have a full season to make a run at becoming the first SEC quarterback ever to throw for 4,000 yards twice in a career.

His Heisman hopes, however, will be made or broken on whether the Rebels win the SEC West. To do that, they’d likely need to beat Alabama for the third consecutive year. That also would mean the second straight win for Kelly.

3. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

He’s the defensive player to watch this season, and his big plays usually don’t go unnoticed.

It helps that he’ll get the opportunity to make those big plays in important games — against Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, etc.

It helps that he’ll enter the season already in the discussion to become the No. 1 pick in next April’s draft.

It helps that he’s in Texas, which draws eyeballs and votes from both sides of the country (whereas West Coast voters might prefer Christian McCaffrey, say, to SEC running backs. Last season, Derrick Henry won the Heisman, but McCaffrey won the vote out West).

It doesn’t necessarily help that Jadeveon Clowney slumped in his junior season, which he entered as a Heisman contender, but Garrett already has said he’s more motivated than ever.

Texas A&M has the talent to win the SEC West — particularly if its best player plays at a Heisman level.

4. Jalen Hurd, RB, Tennessee

Teammate Josh Dobbs is mentioned more frequently, but Dobbs won’t put up the 3,500-1,000 yard numbers that it will take for a dual threat quarterback to win the Heisman.

Consider these numbers from the five most recent quarterback winners:

  • Marcus Mariota threw for 4,454 yards and 42 TDs in 2014.
  • Jameis Winston threw for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2013.
  • Johnny Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 1,410 yards and 21 scores in 2012.
  • Robert Griffin III threw for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns and ran for 699 yards and 10 more scores in 2011.
  • Cam Newton passed for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns and ran for 1,473 yards and 20 scores in 2010.

Tennessee won’t — and doesn’t want to — throw it enough times for Dobbs to challenge 3,500 or more passing yards. The Vols ran it an SEC-high 47 times per game last season, and Dobbs is a key part of that attack.

Hurd, however, is a safer bet to challenge for the SEC rushing title — especially if LSU is serious about its tweaks and getting Guice a bit more involved.

If Hurd goes for 1,500 and 20 touchdowns and leads Tennessee past Alabama and into the SEC Championship game, he’ll jump firmly into the mix.

5. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Chubb shows up on all types of Heisman forecasts, but the reality is, his campaign depends on two factors he can’t necessarily control: His health and Georgia winning the SEC East.

His surgically repaired knee appears to be healing well ahead of schedule. And the Bulldogs should be in contention in the East, where Tennessee will be the favorite.

Sony Michel will share some of the running responsibilities, but Kirby Smart will lean on that running game. Georgia averaged 37 carries per game last year, and included games without Chubb.

Darkhorse — Trevor Knight, QB, Texas A&M:

Heisman contenders need two things: gaudy stats and impressive records.

Knight has as many weapons as anybody in the country. In that offense, he could very well end up leading the conference in passing yards and touchdown passes.

If the Aggies upset Alabama and stay in the SEC West race, Knight will become a bigger part of the conversation than he is right now.