Fall camp has finally arrived in the SEC, so we’re only about a month away from toe meeting leather for the 2017 campaign.

This is when each of the conference’s 14 member institutions is at its most confident. Both sides of the ball seem relatively healthy. New assistant coaches have brought a fresh approach. Freshmen open eyes and make a case for playing time.

However, it won’t take long for harsh reality to set in across the league. An unforeseen injury can quickly turn any position group from deep to thin. Head coaches who promised to make changes — think Les Miles a year ago — will be too stubborn for their own good. JUCO transfers are typically much more celebrated on signing day than productive on game day.

Aside from Alabama, which was the preseason choice to win the league at Media Days in a landslide vote, a case can be made that the other 13 squads will all struggle this season. It’s not likely, of course, but things could go sideways for the Crimson Tide, too.

Even the mighty Achilles couldn’t get past his heel problem, so here’s one reason why every team in the SEC will suck in 2017.

ALABAMA

Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey, Eddie Jackson, Dalvin Tomlinson and Tim Williams were all selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. Yes, the Crimson Tide have signed seven straight No. 1 recruiting classes and are again loaded with 4- and 5-star replacements, but that’s a lot of talent to lose off one dastardly defense at the same time.

ARKANSAS

It’s a miracle that Austin Allen was healthy enough to start every game in 2016 at quarterback considering how severely he was beaten up on a weekly basis. The Razorbacks are supposed to be big and strong down in the trenches, but that simply wasn’t the case a year ago. Now that Dan Skipper is history, they need for this to be an addition-by-subtraction situation in pass protection.

AUBURN

Credit: Auburn Athletics

We’ve previously bought a lot of bad stock from the Tigers at the game’s most important position. Two years ago, Jeremy Johnson was supposed to be twice the passer that Nick Marshall was and just as effective of a runner. And then last year, John Franklin III was billed as Marshall 2.0. Now it’s Jarrett Stidham’s turn. Maybe putting up big numbers at QB for Baylor isn’t so hard after all.

FLORIDA

Similar to ‘Bama, the Gators lost Alex Anzalone, Caleb Brantley, Jarrad Davis, Joey Ivie, Marcus Maye, Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson to the draft. Perhaps even more of a blow, defensive coordinator Geoff Collins left to be the head coach at Temple. The offensive-minded Jim McElwain has been bailed out by UF’s defense since he arrived, but that well may have run dry.

GEORGIA

Despite the 5-star tools he brings to the table, it’s certainly possible that Jacob Eason just isn’t so special. To be fair, most true freshman signal callers in the SEC play more like he did a season ago than Jalen Hurts. But there’s a reason why many fans of the Bulldogs were thrilled about the arrival of 2017 early enrollee Jake Fromm.

KENTUCKY

The only thing the Wildcats did exceptionally well in 2016 was run the football. True, their pass defense was solid, but they couldn’t throw it themselves and were consistently gashed on the ground. Essentially, it was a one-dimensional team. There’s no justification to think the aerial attack will take a giant leap forward this year, so that’s a lot of pressure on the running game.

LSU

We still have no idea when defensive end Arden Key will make his way back to Baton Rouge. Ed Orgeron keeps saying all the right things, like how Key’s rehab from shoulder surgery is going just fine and that he’s gained 30 pounds of muscle in the last calendar year. But until he puts on that purple and gold again, it’s fair to wonder if he ever will.

OLE MISS

Where do we begin? The stench of Hugh Freeze’s sudden exit still hasn’t left Oxford. Matt Luke has never even been a playcaller before, let alone a head coach. We’re putting a lot of faith in three games started by Shea Patterson in 2016, forgetting that he lost two of them. The run defense didn’t stop anyone a season ago. Oh, and the NCAA is on Line 1.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulldogs are going to score this year based on the sheer presence of dual-threat monster Nick Fitzgerald. The D, on the other hand, must be turned around drastically. Dan Mullen is gambling on an influx of JUCO transfers to help him do it, but there’s a considerable gap between this conference and “Last Chance U.”

MISSOURI

While the Tigers really cranked up the speed in 2016 with Josh Heupel coordinating the offense for the first time, the fallout on the other side of the ball was catastrophic. Mizzou, a school known for producing top-quality defensive linemen, finished last in the league in yards allowed and 12th in points allowed. Heupel won’t be slowing it down, plus the D-line isn’t what it once was.

SOUTH CAROLINA

If the Gamecocks are going to make some noise in the East, then their offense has to lead the way. Remember, we’re talking about a program coached by the defense-first Will Muschamp. To say that his tenure at Florida was offensively challenged is generous. Asking Muschamp to win with offense is like asking Steve Spurrier to win with defense.

TENNESSEE

The second Butch Jones revealed at Media Days that he’s considering a two-quarterback system, hearts should’ve sunk on Rocky Top. Quinten Dormady looked like a better choice than Jarrett Guarantano after an abbreviated spring game, but Jones still doesn’t see it that way. If you’re trying to sell the idea that you have two field generals, then you really don’t have any.

TEXAS A&M

Myles Garrett was a genetic freak of a pass rusher and just went No. 1 overall in the draft, yet the Aggies were still atrocious defensively with him in the lineup. The three years Garrett was in College Station, A&M never finished higher than seventh in either total D or scoring D. Unlike Arkansas with Skipper, this isn’t addition by subtraction.

VANDERBILT

Even though he’s already the school’s leading rusher of all time, Ralph Webb returned to Nashville for his senior campaign. Unfortunately, only once this decade has a senior led the conference in rushing. More often than not, it’s a sophomore or junior. Seniors rarely do so because legit difference makers in the backfield only last three years.