It’s well known that the SEC is the most talented football conference in the country. Watching the first night of the NFL Draft again will prove the dominance in terms of sheer talent, where the SEC should again lead all conferences in first-round draft picks, and will more than likely overall players selected.

The depth is proven by the countless gems found littered throughout the middle and late rounds of the draft, however. You don’t need to be a first-rounder to make it big or earn postseason accolades.

Reshad Jones (5th round, 2010), Geno Atkins (4th, 2010), Justin Houston (4th, 2011), K.J. Wright (4th, 2011), Malik Jackson (5th, 2012), Dak Prescott (4th, 2016) and Alvin Kamara (3rd, 2017) are just a handful of the Pro Bowlers hailing from the SEC in recent years, and all were plucked well after the first round. The best example of this is Jason Peters, a former TE from Arkansas who went undrafted in 2004 and has gone on to 9 Pro Bowls in his Hall of Fame career at OT.

So who are some prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft who will outperform their likely draft slot?

Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

NFL.com draft projection: 2nd-3rd round.

The 6-0, 212-pound Johnson is a highly explosive all-purpose back with a skill set well suited for the modern NFL game. His 4.54 40-time won’t blow you away, but his 40-inch vertical and 126.0-inch broad jump give you an idea of the burst and power he’s capable of generating through his base, which shows up time and again on film.

He doesn’t have ideal lateral mobility and he doesn’t make a lot of guys miss in the open field, but his vision and patience as a runner allows him to find the seam and explode into the second level, where his power puts him at an advantage against smaller DBs. Combine that with his receiving ability out of the backfield and he should make an early impact at the next level.

Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida

NFL.com draft projection: 3rd-4th round.

It’s not physical tools that are putting Callaway’s draft projection in the middle rounds, because the raw tool set he possesses is among the best of any receiver in the draft. The 5-11, 200-pounder is a gifted athlete who is exceptionally light on his feet and displays game-breaking speed in the open field, and he should be an early contributor in the return game as well.

It’s the off-the-field concerns that have plagued Callaway and what could prevent him from becoming a perennial Pro Bowl-caliber receiver at the next level. Assuming he can stay out of trouble, he has a very bright future.

Javon Wims, WR, Georgia

NFL.com draft projection: 6th-7th round.

The 6-3, 215-pound Wims will never be the quickest or fastest on the field, but he’s a big and physical receiver who knows how to use his size to bully smaller DBs covering him, especially in the red zone and near the sidelines.

He needs to continue improving his routes and using his hands to get better separation against press, but his playmaking ability and propensity for circus catches in traffic and with DBs draped over him should make him an excellent situational receiver early in his career.

Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

NFL.com draft projection: 1st-2nd round.

He’s not projected as a mid to late-round prospect, so it’s not like he’s being disrespected in scouting circles, but I think he’s one of the 10 best prospects in the entire draft regardless of position and should become a perennial Pro Bowler.

He’s powerful, athletic, nimble and intelligent — everything you could ask for in a lineman, and has the experience and skill set to play multiple positions across the front. His lack of length at 6-2 will likely force him inside, but I think he’ll be one of the best OG’s in the NFL in the very near future.

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

NFL.com draft projection: 2nd-3rd round.

Talk about a guy who simply gets the job done on an unbelievably consistent level. Ragnow (6-5, 312-pounds) has arguably been the most steady and reliable offensive linemen in college football the past two years, having not given up a sack and only allowing a handful of hurries.

He’s powerful at the point of attack, can anchor down against powerful NTs in pass protection and has the lateral quickness and mobility to shuffle and get to the second level. Combine that with the intelligence he shows to make adjustments and reads for his fellow linemen pre-snap and you have the making of a longtime starter in the NFL, where effectiveness and reliability can never be overvalued.

Da’Shawn Hand, DE, Alabama

NFL.com draft projection: 2nd-3rd round.

He likely underachieved at Alabama considering his immense athleticism and raw skill set, but don’t be surprised if he begins living up to his huge potential at the next level. At just under 6-4, a chiseled 297-pounds with vine-like 34.5-inch arms, Hand has the size and strength to play 3-tech in a 4-3 front or the 5 in a 3-4.

He needs to play with a more consistent motor and he needs to do a better job getting extension and using his hands to get off blocks, but the sky is the limit.

Jeff Holland, Edge, Auburn

NFL.com draft projection: 4th-5th round.

At just under 6-2, 249-pounds and running a 4.79, Holland doesn’t project nicely on paper as an edge rusher, but turn on the film and you see why you can’t just rely on Combine or testing numbers. He simply knows how to get to the QB and uses his height to his advantage, capitalizing on leverage and dipping underneath bigger and longer OTs.

Similar to former teammate Carl Lawson, Holland’s ability to generate consistent pressure will force whoever drafts him to carve out a spot for him, even if the holes in his game relegate him to passing downs and nickel and dime packages.

Skai Moore, OLB, South Carolina

NFL.com draft projection: 5th-6th round.

Moore is another guy who doesn’t necessarily look great on paper, but his film speaks volumes. The 6-2, 220-pounder doesn’t offer much in terms of a pass rush and struggles at times to disengage off blocks, but his range and coverage ability against backs and TE’s should make him a valuable asset as a WILL in a 4-3 front.

There are some medical concerns in his neck that will undoubtedly scare away some teams, but his on-field awareness, ability to quickly diagnose plays and close on the ball are invaluable traits that will get him on the field sooner rather than later, particularly against pass happy offenses.

Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama

NFL.com draft projection: 3rd-4th round.

At 5-11, 183-pounds, Averett obviously isn’t the biggest or strongest guy, and his slight frame will give cause for concern to many regarding his long-term durability, but holy cow is this kid a wet blanket in coverage.

With a 4.36 40-time and a 119.0-inch broad jump, he clearly has the deep speed and burst to stick in man coverage against some of the track stars of the NFL, and his fluid hips and smooth feet in transition allow him to easily stick to the inside hip of his man, making him a nightmare to separate from. He reminds me of a longer and faster version of Brent Grimes.

Duke Dawson, CB, Florida

NFL.com draft projection: 3rd-4th round.

Unlike Averett, Dawson is a physical corner who can dominate receivers in press coverage and has the strength to jam receivers off the line. Also unlike Averett, he’s not very fluid or smooth in transition and doesn’t show great recovery speed, meaning he might be destined for the slot in the NFL.

Still, Dawson is a high IQ player who reads QBs and receivers well and protects the perimeter against outside runs, though he needs to do a much better job wrapping up instead of going for the highlight reel hit. Physical players with good instincts always find their way on the field sooner rather than later.