Five-star status doesn’t always equate to NFL stardom, but it does often provide a great indicator on how early a potential impact player could play in college.

It’s a way of separating the perceived elite from the very good, the game-changing players from the solid starters.

There are always exceptions, however.

Some of the SEC’s best defensive players over the last few years, notably Jarvis Jones, Michael Sam, Melvin Ingram and Shane Ray, never reached five-star status coming out of high school but still developed into dominant players by career’s end.

During the SEC’s record-setting 2013 draft, five former five-star prospects (10 overall) were selected in the first round. The SEC’s 63 total players selected is the most ever by a conference in a single draft.

Five-star players from the SEC who could be selected in Thursday’s first round include LSU’s La’el Collins, Alabama safety Landon Collins, Florida tackle D.J. Humphries and former Mizzou wideout Dorial Green-Beckham.

Editor’s note: Rivals.com’s recruiting rankings were used for this story.

2014

  • Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (first round)
  • Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, DB, Alabama (first round)
  • Dominique Easley, DL, Florida (first round)
  • Cyrus Kouandjio, OL, Alabama (second round)
  • Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU (second round)
  • Ronald Powell, DL, Florida (fifth round)

2013

  • Dee Milliner, DB, Alabama (first round)
  • D.J. Fluker, OL, Alabama (first round)
  • Sharrif Floyd, DL, Florida (first round)
  • Matt Elam, DB, Florida (first round)
  • Sheldon Richardson, DT, Mizzou (first round)
  • Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M (second round)
  • Jelani Jenkins, LB, Florida (fourth round)
  • Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama (fourth round)
  • Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina (fourth round)
  • Spencer Ware, RB, LSU (sixth round)

2012

  • Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (first round)
  • Dre Kirkpatrick, DB, Alabama (first round)
  • Rueben Randle, WR, LSU (second round)

2011

  • Cam Newton, QB, Auburn (first round)
  • A.J. Green, WR, Georgia (first round)
  • Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU (first round)
  • Julio Jones, WR, Alabama (first round)
  • Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas (third round)
  • Chris Culliver, DB, South Carolina (third round)
  • Jerrell Powe, DL, Ole Miss (sixth round)

2010

  • Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee (first round)
  • Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (first round)
  • Carlos Dunlap, DL, Florida (second round)
  • Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida (second round)
  • Chad Jones, DB, LSU (third round)
  • Al Woods, DT, LSU (fourth round)
  • Reshad Jones, DB, Georgia (fifth round)

2009

  • Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia (first round)
  • Percy Harvin, ATH, Florida (first round)
  • Andre Smith, OL, Alabama (first round)

2008

  • Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (first round)
  • Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida (first round)
  • Early Doucet, WR, LSU (third round)
  • Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida (third round)

2007

  • Robert Meachum, WR, Tennessee (first round)
  • Jarvis Moss, DL, Florida (first round)

2006

  • Chad Jackson, WR, Florida (second round)
  • Jerious Norwood, RB, Mississippi State (third round)
  • Joe Cohen, DL, Florida (fourth round)
  • Dee Webb, DB, Florida (seventh round)
  • Ben Obamnu, WR, Auburn (seventh round)

2005

  • Ciatrick Fason, RB, Florida (fourth round)