The NFL draft begins April 28 in Chicago, with all 32 teams looking for the next great pro talent to emerge from the SEC.

We’ll take a position-by-position look at the SEC’s draft prospects in the days leading up to the event, starting with running backs.

So many blue-blood SEC teams lost running backs to the NFL after just three years — Alabama, Arkansas (2), Auburn, Florida, and Georgia.

RELATED: Rankings, potential NFL fits for the SEC’s draft-eligible running backs

Then there’s the fact that former Alabama running back Trent Richardson (No. 3 overall in 2012 to the Cleveland Browns) was the last player at the position to get selected in the first round — until Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon last draft. So the evolution of value as it relates to the running back position at the pro level is still taking shape.

So what is the current buzz on the SEC running backs?

THE ENIGMA

Derrick Henry, Alabama: There aren’t many good comps for Henry at the pro level — Eddie George, maybe? — and so he’ll be an interesting case study. Weighing in at 247 pounds at the NFL Combine, Henry still managed to run 4.54 seconds in an electronically-timed 40-yard dash. Give him a runway and he can accelerate through all three levels of a defense. But he enters the league with a lot of wear on his big body. His vision isn’t the best if there isn’t an obvious hole. And there are questions about his ability as a three-down player in the NFL, as his pass blocking was inconsistent and Alabama didn’t use him much in the passing game.

Henry’s game works best when he gets fed for four quarters, and as such a team needs to commit to him as its primary ball-carrier. There are enough questions with his game to push him into the second round.

THE GLASS MAN

Keith Marshall, Georgia: The former five-star recruit wowed us with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash. He’s capable of being one of the better running backs in this draft class. Despite playing alongside Todd Gurley as a true freshman in 2012, Marshall only carried 253 times for the Bulldogs, mostly due to a torn ACL (’13) and subsequent injury problems. He’s got the speed of a sprinter along with patience and balance, so the potential is there. But if he had trouble with the SEC grind, is he going to be able to survive NFL training camp and four sometimes-grueling (for borderline rookies) preseason games and even get to the start of the regular season healthy?

THE SECOND FIDDLE

Alex Collins, Arkansas: Despite three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, it never felt like Collins quite belonged in the top tier of SEC running backs alongside players like Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette, Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb. Expect that narrative to follow him into the NFL draft, where many expect him to become a second-day pick. He doesn’t have the sort of deep speed that allows some NFL running backs to pull away from linebackers. His hands also are suspect, as he wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game and fumbled nine times the last two seasons. But he’s a tough, patient runner with good lateral quickness. He should be able to contribute to a pro backfield right away.

THE BATTERING RAM

Tra Carson, Texas A&M: If you weren’t paying attention, you missed it. But Carson topped 1,000 rushing yards in ’15 for the Aggies. He ran for a whopping 621 yards after contact last season, according to Pro Football Focus. A lack of burst may limit him to running between the tackles. And the fact that he didn’t find more holes in the Texas A&M spread offense — with wide offensive line splits — suggests his vision isn’t great. But if you need someone to punish defenses, especially in goal-line or short-yardage situations, Carson is your man.

THE POOR MAN’S DARREN SPROLES

Kenyan Drake, Alabama: There can’t be a better utility back in this entire draft. Underrated as a between-the-tackles runner playing behind T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry, Drake isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder and take on contact. But his speed, quick feet and balance make him an excellent receiver out of the backfield and an able special teams contributor. NFL teams must consider his lengthy injury history, but he has a chance to be a useful, multi-dimensional player at the pro level.

THE UNDERDOG

Peyton Barber, Auburn: After some fans and media members discounted him in the three-person running back competition last offseason, Barber won the starting job outright and rushed for more than 1,000 yards. He’s not the fastest or most powerful back, and he doesn’t have much film to speak of outside of the ’15 season. Yet it’s hard to ignore that production. His decision to enter the NFL draft early was a surprise, but it’s hard not to root for a guy putting it on the line to try to help his mother.

BUST POTENTIAL

Kelvin Taylor, Florida: His NFL Combine workout seemed to give credibility to the notion that Taylor is one of the least explosive running back prospects in this draft class. A 4.60 in the 40-yard dash and 15 bench press reps at 225 may outclass the average intramural athlete, but it’s not so great compared to the otherworldly athletes who populate NFL backfields. While Taylor runs hard and has above-average vision, he doesn’t possess the speed or power to become a starter in the NFL. A few draftniks have fallen in love with him, though. If an NFL general manager does the same and takes Taylor in the third or fourth round, that could lead to disappointment.

FORGOTTEN POTENTIAL

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas: He missed all of 2015 with a broken foot, but rushed for 1,190 yards in the SEC in 2014. NFL personnel folks are likely to question his ball security and tendency to bounce too many carries outside in search of big gainers. But he should be a third-down asset. And at 220 pounds, with loose hips and quick feet, he has the physical traits of an NFL running back. The injury probably deflated his value, so he’ll have a chance to make some general manager look smart.

NON-SEC PLAYERS TO WORRY ABOUT

  1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
  2. Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech
  3. Jordan Howard, Indiana
  4. Devontae Booker, Utah

THREE BIGGEST QUESTIONS

  1. Are Alabama running backs overrated coming out of college?
  2. Who will be the second SEC back taken? Alex Collins? Jonathan Williams? Kenyan Drake? Kelvin Taylor?
  3. How many of the six early-entry running backs from the SEC will make an NFL roster?

THREE TO WATCH FOR 2017

  • Leonard Fournette, LSU
  • Nick Chubb, Georgia
  • Jalen Hurd, Tennessee