There’s people who overreact during preseason practice and others who take situations for what they’re worth.

We all can agree spring workouts provide teams a couple of weeks to improve physically and mentally while trying to determine proper fits for personnel. It’s a trial run for players and first-year coaches blending together before it counts.

The SEC’s no different, a league hoping to repair an ego that’s been shredded back-to-back years on the national stage, once by unbeaten national champion Florida State and last season by now league nemesis Urban Meyer and Ohio State.

RELATED: Post-spring SEC awards, notables

With that in mind, several players stuck out during March and April as noticeably improved for their respective teams. Here’s a couple I saw worthy of mention:

SEC WEST

Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State: SEC defenses must prepare for Dak Prescott the quarterback, not necessarily Dak Prescott the run-first playmaker, this season. We’re a year away from the 2016 NFL draft and Mississippi State’s rising senior has already elevated his game to another level, showcasing what he’s worked on during the offseason through two quarters of the Bulldogs’ spring game last month. Not only did Prescott spend more time in the pocket, he appeared to keep his eyes down field and made every throw you can imagine for scouts. We know there’s going to be plenty of highlights on the move this season while evading pressure or keeping it on the option, but new-look Prescott as one of college football’s most efficient passers may surprise you. And can we stop with the Tim Tebow comparison just because he’s the facilitator in a Dan Mullen-inspired spread offense? The players have similar builds and leadership characteristics, but that’s where the similarities end from a quarterback perspective. Prescott’s a more polished and mechanically-sound passer and he’ll prove it this fall. I’d consider him the SEC’s most valuable — and most improved — player of the spring.

Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas: The Razorbacks have several well-documented weapons on offense, but how will Robb Smith’s defense hold up without talented starters Martrell Spaight, Trey Flowers and Darius Philon? It starts up front with Bijhon Jackson and Wise, a player who looks the part on the outside at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds. Wise showed up a little bit of everything this spring — speed, power and finesse — at the point of attack. Don’t expect the Razorbacks to suffer a steep production loss impact numbers (tackles for loss, sacks) on defense thanks to Wise, an athlete ready to breakout as a seasoned fourth-year junior.

Demarquis Gates, LB, Ole Miss: It appears Gates has leaped JUCO transfer Christian Russell for the second-team spot at mike linebacker behind C.J. Johnson who has made the switch from defensive end to the middle this season for the Rebels. Long and lean, Gates led all defenders with four tackles during the Grove Bowl last month. More snaps will benefit Gates who is still developing in pursuit and coverage like most sophomores.

Dontavian Lee, RB, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs’ best running back of the spring, Lee was supposed to compete for the second-team job with Aeris Williams and Brandon Holloway behind Ashton Shumpert as a redshirt freshman but he’s given Mullen something to think about this summer. Lee flourished in every scrimmage, showcasing a blend of tenacity and burst that guarantees he’ll be a primary contributor this fall.

SEC EAST

Wesley Leftwich, WR, Mizzou: Much will be asked of the Tigers’ inexperienced but talented receiving corps this season and the group’s lone senior will be its leader. He’ll battle sophomore J’Mon Moore for the No. 1 title and should be Maty Mauk’s first read over the middle. Leftwich has only three career catches, but four years in the program means he has earned his opportunity and has a chance to exit Columbia as one of Mizzou’s all-time winningest players.

Lorenzo Carter, LB, Georgia: Faster and stronger than he was last season as a disruptive freshman the second half of the season in Athens, Carter was one of the Bulldogs’ spring MVPs on defense. At times, Georgia’s coaching staff hardly noticed the absence of Leonard Floyd, the SEC’s top linebacker in 2015, who missed spring ball with a shoulder injury. Carter’s quickness helps him cover ground much-like Jadeveon Clowney with long strides and short bursts. He’s on an upward slope with All-American potential.

David Williams, RB, South Carolina: Running angry. It was Mike Davis’ best quality last season, but often evaporated during games for various reasons. For Williams, he’s always stuck in fifth gear and doesn’t know when to slow down when he’s on the field. He ripped into the second level violently this spring, showing poise as a player battling senior Brandon Wilds for the Gamecocks’ lead tailback spot. The pair wasn’t included in our Top 5 SEC running back tandems list, but should’ve been. By midseason, Williams will be on pace to hit 1,000 yards on the ground.