Now that spring practice has ended for all 14 SEC teams, we must endure a wait of more than four months until South Carolina kicks off the season Sept. 3 against North Carolina.

In the meantime, let’s look at the 10 best positions across the SEC as we steam toward summer in the Southeast.

Alabama defensive line

Jonathan Allen made the AP first-team All-SEC in 2014, and he may not even be the Tide’s best defensive lineman this year. A’Shawn Robinson is a future first-round NFL selection, and this could be his breakout season in Tuscaloosa.

Jarran Reed, the third-wheel returning starter, would be the biggest star, or at least 1b, on most SEC defensive lines. Instead he’s another ho-hum mid-round NFL draft pick who won’t get much league-wide hype.

D.J. Pettway, Dalvin Tomlinson and Da’Shawn Hand make up the best collection of backup defensive linemen in the SEC, and that’s omitting five-star incoming freshman Daron Payne. If the players behind this line can play up to Alabama’s championship-years standard — which is a decent-sized if — we could see a return to dominance for the Crimson Tide defense.

Arkansas running backs

Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, the team’s No. 1 and No. 2 tailbacks, sat out Saturday’s spring game. But we already know what they can do, having each rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

The team kicked Korliss Marshall out of the program at the end of 2014. Connor McPherson and Denzell Evans are medicore. Juan Day suffered a season-ending injury earlier this spring.

But Kody Walker ran 26 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns. The Razorbacks more or less are limited to three capable backs this fall. But those three backs could make an argument for best in the conference.

Arkansas tight ends

Hunter Henry easily could lay claim to “best tight end in the SEC” in 2015.

The Hogs lost A.J. Derby at the position — he’ll likely go undrafted this week, but could legitimately compete for at least a practice squad spot. But Jeremy Sprinkle could be even better as a No. 2 tight end, catching four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown during the spring game.

We all know how much Brett Bielema loves tight ends, signing three of the highest-rated members of Arkansas’ 2015 class at the position. The team will play in two-tight end sets almost exclusively, with a lack of high-caliber receivers after Keon Hatcher.

There’s no question the Razorbacks will have the most productive tight end tandem in the SEC this fall.

Auburn quarterbacks

Gus Malzahn’s decision not to name Jeremy Johnson a starter seemed like a strategy to develop the 6-foot-5 junior. It probably was not a legitimate competition with backup Sean White.

Johnson could be a legitimate threat to Dak Prescott for All-SEC, especially if he can produce some semblance of Prescott’s running game. If not, Johnson still should be one of the SEC’s three or four best.

But Auburn is in more or less the same position it was last season, with a worthy starting quarterback and a capable backup short on experience but long on potential.

Mississippi State quarterbacks

Having won the Heisman the year before, Johnny Manziel in 2013 became a much better passer, earning himself a first-round pick despite fewer individual accolades.

We could see a similar season for Dak Prescott in 2015. His individual performance last fall kept him in the Heisman conversation all year. But judging by Prescott’s spring, he has total command of the Bulldogs offense.

Even if the team slips as a whole — I can’t imagine Mississippi State being ranked No. 1 overall for five weeks in 2015 — Prescott should get even better as a passer and decision-maker, keeping the offense dangerous.

Nick Fitzgerald is not ready to lead this team, and especially with the loss of so many starters on both sides of the ball, he’s too green and inconsistent if Mississippi State needs to turn to him for whatever reason in ’15. But he showed enough during the spring, especially during the spring game, to prove the Bulldogs aren’t going to fall into desperation at the position once Prescott leaves.

Texas A&M receivers/tight ends

Speedy Noil went through a de facto suspension at the end of spring practice. For what, we don’t know. But he’s already been reinstated to the team’s activities.

Josh Reynolds, one of last year’s most impressive SEC breakout players, scored 13 receiving touchdowns in ’14, second only to Amari Cooper.

Add in “tight end” Ricky Seals-Jones, one of the biggest physical mismatches in the SEC who has yet to fully realize his potential, and Texas A&M has a trio of pass-catchers poised for upper-echelon production.

The Aggies love to spread the ball around, though. Five-star early enrollee Christian Kirk is trying to wedge his way onto the field. Edward Pope is another big target.

Texas A&M has the best collection of pass-catchers in the SEC this year.

Georgia running backs

Nick Chubb is a top three running back in the SEC, if not the best. Keith Marshall, assuming he stays healthy, already has proven himself to be a very good second option (the Todd Gurley-Marshall combo was terrific in 2012). Sony Michel, another true sophomore, probably has supplanted Marshall as the second option, though, and averaged 6.4 yards per carry in ’14.

Brendan Douglas is not on the same level as those three players, but especially with Alabama’s recent thinning at running back, he may be as good of a No 4 guy as there is in the SEC.

Georgia outside linebackers

Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins and Lorenzo Carter.

The over/under on total sacks from that group in 2015 may be 25. That would’ve rank 10th in the SEC last season without the help of any other player.

The biggest question is whether UGA find a way to play them all at the same time, perhaps by moving one of them to inside linebacker or playing a light four-man front in obvious passing situations with one of them rushing from the inside.

The Bulldogs’ secondary may be the weak link in the defense, but it may not matter if those three players get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks like they’re capable of doing.

Missouri defensive tackles

Harold Brantley may be the most underrated defensive star in the SEC in 2015, taking over as the alpha dog of the famed Mizzou defensive line.

With the team again fielding an above-average tandem of pass rushers at defensive end, any production the Tigers get from the other defensive tackle spot is a bonus.

Josh Augusta, all 335 pounds of him, is a fan favorite, and played pretty well last season. So for Rickey Hatley, now up to 295 pounds, to supplant him is impressive. What’s more, five-star true freshman Terry Beckner Jr. will join the team this summer, giving the team what’s perhaps the best four-man rotation in the SEC at the position.

Tennessee defensive ends

Most SEC fans outside of Knoxville don’t realize just how impressive Derek Barnett’s true freshman season was in ’14. Not only did he finish the season with 10 sacks — just 1.5 behind Myles Garrett — but all his sacks came during the eight-game SEC schedule. And Barnett also finished with 20.5 tackles for loss, which is even more impressive. How many SEC true freshman can dominate against the run?

We’re counting Curt Maggitt here, because even though he’s a hybrid, he often plays as a down lineman. Maggitt made 15 tackles for loss in ’14.

Corey Vereen, expected back in June after knee surgery, started 11 games for the Vols last season and is a serviceable player. And Kyle Phillips, an early enrollee, should be able to contribute something off the bench as a freshman.

The Vols have some concerns with depth at ’15, but not at defensive end.