When college football programs recruit, they usually do so with an eye toward the future and not necessarily the present. While trying to find perfect fits for their teams, coaches round up as much talent as they can, hoping their hauls can make impacts down the road.

But for various reasons, teams are sometimes forced to speed up the development of their recruiting classes more quickly than expected or preferred. Or in a handful of cases, they need their incoming freshmen or JUCO transfers to play right away.

While most of the SEC’s traditional powers are usually loaded with talent, which typically allows their first-year players to ease their way toward a bigger number of snaps, other conference teams will need their newcomers to make immediate impacts. It happens to at least one squad every year.

Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Antonio Callaway and others have proven that this approach can work, even in the ultra-competitive SEC. But in all fairness, numerous freshman- and JUCO-heavy teams have also fallen short of expectations.

So which SEC teams will be able to rely on their 2016 recruiting hauls the most? We’ve come up with five, and how well their respective seasons turn out could depend heavily on the performances of players who have yet to sniff a down of SEC football.

Here are the conference’s five most impactful recruiting classes from the past cycle:

1. Alabama

What else is new? The Crimson Tide secured the nation’s top recruiting class for the sixth straight year, according to 247 Sports, so no other SEC team could possibly top this list.

And what else is new? Nick Saban and Bama loaded up on defense. In-state five-star LBs Lyndell “Mack” Wilson and Ben Davis are key commitments who might serve as future cornerstones along with ex-Florida DB commit Aaron Robinson and four-star cornerback prospect Shyheim Carter.

But Alabama also scored on the defensive line. Terrell Hall, Quinnen Williams, Kendell Jones and Raekwon Davis are all four-star recruits. For good measure, the Tide also brought in early enrollee Jalen Hurts, a four-star, dual-threat QB who eventually could be protected by five-star offensive line prospect Jonah Williams.

2. LSU

After surviving a crazy 2015 season, Les Miles brought in new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda from Wisconsin to replace Kevin Steele, who is now at Auburn. Aranda’s reward for coming to Baton Rouge is this year’s recruiting class, which includes five-star lineman Rashard Lawrence and fellow tackle Edwin Alexander, a four-star prospect.

Sticking with defense, the Tigers brought in two potential starters in the secondary. Five-star prospect Kristian Fulton might make a push as a nickel or dime back, and early enrollee Saivion Smith will compete with him for snaps in those roles.

Drake Davis, Dee Anderson and Stephen Sullivan make up an impressive group of incoming receivers. The problem is, LSU should have made more of an upgrade at QB. The Tigers might have challenged Alabama for the top spot had they brought in more than three-star dual-threat Lindsey Scott.

3. Ole Miss

With Chad Kelly entering his senior year, the Rebels addressed their need at QB by signing Shea Patterson, the nation’s No. 1 prospect at the position. To protect Kelly and replace Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss also brought in Greg Little, the best offensive tackle prospect in the country.

When it comes to throwing the ball this season, Kelly will have no shortage of options. A receiving corps that already includes Damore’ea Stringfellow, Quincy Adeboyejo, Damarkus Lodge, Van Jefferson and tight end Evan Engram got reinforcements in recruits Tre Nixon, A.J. Brown and DeKaylin Metcalf.

However, Hugh Freeze’s 2016 class isn’t all about offense. His defensive recruits jump out as well. Five-star DT Benito Jones, four-star safety prospect Deontay Anderson and pass-rushing specialist Charles Wiley are players who could help the Landsharks instantly.

4. Auburn

The Tigers are excited about talented incoming wideouts Nate Craig-Myers, Eli Stove and Kyle Davis. What might curb their enthusiasm is their returning QBs, Jeremy Johnson and Sean White, who didn’t exactly set the world on fire in 2015.

Apparently sensing his job is on the line, Gus Malzahn brought in John Franklin III, the former Florida State and JUCO QB who will get the chance to unseat Auburn’s incumbents. Also in the class is four-star dual-threat Woody Barrett, who will likely have to wait his turn as the three QBs ahead of him battle for snaps.

The aforementioned Steele should be happy with the haul of tackles Derrick Brown and Antwuan Jackson along with end Marlon Davidson and cornerback John Broussard. They’ll join freshman All-SEC corner Carlton Davis and defensive linemen Byron Cowart, Montravius Adams and Carl Lawson in a group that should perform better than it did last year.

5. Georgia

Kirby Smart’s first recruiting class is pretty impressive considering the fact that he kept serving as Alabama’s defensive coordinator right through last season’s national championship game before continuing to pound the pavement for the Bulldogs. For starters, Smart kept the commitment of five-star signal-caller Jacob Eason, a January enrollee who will give returning QBs Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey a battle this fall.

Two other early enrollees include Riley Ridley – Calvin’s younger brother – and Julian Rochester. Much is expected of the defensive lineman, who must prove he can stay out of trouble like this.

Other recruits to keep an eye on are five-star athlete Mecole Hardman, four-star DE Chauncey Manac and ex-Alabama commit Tyler Simmons. The Bulldogs would have been higher on this list had Smart nabbed Auburn’s Brown and offensive lineman E.J. Price (USC), but it’s still a solid class despite those misses.