In the always-win-now world of the National Football League, it is not surprising that teams don’t bother waiting for prospects to play all four years of college before drafting the most talented ones.

And it’s even less of a surprise that young men jump at the chance to get rich and start their pro careers early.

The SEC has produced a prodigious amount of NFL talent over the years — 12 of the 32 picks in the first round this past spring played at SEC schools — and 2018 will be no exception. Last year, 24 SEC players declared early and 20 were drafted. In 2016, 23 declared early and 18 were drafted.

So, these are not necessarily the 12 best junior players in the SEC, just 12 who are pretty likely to be drafted (and most will go quickly) should they chose to skip their senior seasons. These players have made a huge impact on their programs in a short time.

So, here are the 12 players, in alphabetical order, that their schools and fans will miss most if this is their last weekend of regular-season college football.

Taven Bryan, DL, Florida

Amid a pretty dismal season in Gainesville, Bryan has been a stout performer and has seen his stock rise. Bryan is tied for the team lead with four sacks and has 36 tackles, five for loss. At 6-4, 291 pounds, he has the requisite size that NFL scouts look for.

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Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

He’s in the first round of any 2018 NFL Draft one would care to seek out and in the top 10 in many. Fitzpatrick was an All-American last year and, assuming he has healed from a hamstring injury, will have another national showcase on Saturday in the Iron Bowl at Auburn.

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

The 5-11, 218-pound runner emerged from Leonard Fournette’s shadow last season to rush for 1,387 yards and he’s on pace for similar numbers this season. He already has 1,026 yards rushing in 2017 with two games to go and is a likely first-round pick should he declare for the NFL Draft.

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

Harris shares the rushing load with fellow junior running back Bo Scarbrough and quarterback Jalen Hurts, which limits his numbers. But the 5-11, 221-pounder still would be fourth in the FBS at 8.2 yards a carry if he had the number of carries (10 per game) to qualify. Harris has 104 carries in 11 games.

Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

These days, every NFL team seeks a big tight end who can create mismatches for defenses and put up solid receiving numbers as well as block. At 6-5, 250, and with 86 catches in the past two seasons combined, Hurst checks every box.

Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

Johnson is tied for seventh in the FBS with 16 rushing TDs in just nine games.

His decision might be the toughest of all the players on this list. Johnson, with 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing this season, certainly has the numbers in college to impress anybody. But some more heralded running backs might hold down his draft stock enough to make him ponder returning.

Arden Key, LB, LSU

He has missed a few games this season with injuries but Key, at 6-6, 265, presents a physical presence that translates well to the NFL. With 24 sacks in 58 career games, Key is another player on this list likely to go high in the draft, if he chooses, but must stay healthy.

Christian Kirk, WR/KR, Texas A&M

His receiving stats are pretty good — 209 career catches for 2,512 yards and 22 touchdowns — but his form as a returner should really turn NFL teams’ heads. Kirk has six punt returns for touchdowns, in the NCAA’s all-time top 10, and has a kick return for a score as well.

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Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

Lock leads the nation with 38 passing touchdowns and is second in the FBS at 16.32 yards per completion, just 0.06 ypc behind Heisman Trophy favorite Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. Lock also leads the SEC and is 11th in the nation with 3,247 yards passing this season.

Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama

With 42 tackles and a team-high seven quarterback hurries this season, Payne has lived up to his status as a 4-star recruit and then some. At 6-2, 308, Payne has the physical tool to succeed at the next level and is yet another Tide prospect often projected in the first round of the draft.

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Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Ridley has put up some terrific numbers even though teams know that he is by far the No. 1 option for Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts. Ridley has 52 catches this season, 39 more than anybody else on the roster, and has had consecutive 100-yard receiving games.

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

At 6-1, 225, Smith might be a tad small for an NFL linebacker, at least for some teams. But his speed and nose for the ball more than compensates and whichever pro team winds up with him will focus more on his production — 91 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 11 QB hurries this year alone — and would be wise to do so.