Freshman are making more of an immediate impact than ever before in college football history, and many members of the 2015 recruiting class became household names over night.

However, the general consensus remains that a player develops most between his freshman and sophomore campaign. With that in mind, we take a look at 25 super sophomores that should do big things in 2016.

  1. Sihiem King, RB, Kentucky

The running back depth chart is crowded at Kentucky, but expect the Wildcats to find new ways to feature 5-foot-9, 172-pound speedster Sihiem King in 2016. King recorded just 11 carries as a freshman, but gained 127 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown. He also averaged 21.7 yards on 23 kick returns.

  1. Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

Despite offseason shoulder surgery that is expected to severely limit him in spring practice, Kerryon Johnson is poised to play a bigger role for the Tigers on offense in 2016. As a freshman, Johnson ranked third on the team with 208 rushing yards, added 159 receiving yards and scored 3 touchdowns. He also contributed as a kick returner. Johnson averaged 9.4 yards per play in 2015, which ranked No. 11 in the SEC and fourth among SEC freshmen, and should compete with Jovon Robinson and Roc Thomas to become the primary ball carrier for the Tigers next season.

  1. Donte’ Jackson, CB, LSU

A 4.24-second time in the 40-yard dash gave Donte’ Jackson case to be the fastest man in the SEC, but his 6.66-second performance in a 60-meter race Monday officially made Jackson the fastest man in college football – at least among those that also run track – according to Jerit Roser of The Times-Picayune. Of course, Jackson is a pretty good cornerback as well, having recorded 26 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 12 games in 2015. He also helped out in the return game and had a 14-yard run on offense.

  1. Chris Westry, DB, Kentucky

One of the tallest defensive backs in the SEC, 6-foot-4, 185-pound Chris Westry earned SEC All-Freshman honors with 36 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 interceptions as a true freshman cornerback last season. While athletic enough to match up with the SEC’s most physical receivers, it may make sense for Westry to slide over into the safety spot AJ Stamps held the last two seasons for the Wildcats.

  1. Gerri Green, LB, Mississippi State

One of the highest rated members of Mississippi State’s 2014 recruiting class, Gerri Green redshirted in his first year in Starkville and bloomed into a contributor as a reserve linebacker in 2015. Green played in 13 games, including one start, and finished sixth on the team with 49 total tackles. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions, winning SEC All-SEC Freshman recognition in the process. With just one full-time starter returning at linebacker and an entirely new defensive coaching staff, State likely will lean on Green in 2016.

  1. Martez Ivey, OL, Florida

Martez Ivey signed with Florida as the nation’s top-ranked offensive line recruit, but missed the first two games of the season following knee surgery. Ivey worked his way onto the field to play in 12 games, made eight starts for the Gators and earned SEC All-Freshman honors, but injured his shoulder in Florida’s loss to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl and required offseason surgery.

  1. Brandon Bryant, S, Mississippi State

One of the fastest players in the SEC, Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant used his speed to record 63 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions (including a 73-yard sick six against Louisiana Tech) as a redshirt freshman in 2015. Bryant started eight games for the Bulldogs in 2015, and is one of six State starters expected to return on defense in 2016.

  1. Walter Brady, DE, Missouri

Missouri has an outstanding track record of producing productive defensive ends, and Walter Brady made waves as a redshirt freshman in 2015. Brady recorded seven sacks – the most in the nation for a freshman – in addition to 40 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

  1. Trenton Thompson, DT, Georgia

One of the most highly recruited defensive linemen in the nation in the 2015 recruiting class, Trenton Thompson made an immediate impact in the interior defensive line for the Georgia Bulldogs. In 12 games, Thompson recorded 25 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss for a defense that ranked third in the league with 305.9 total yards of offense allowed per game.

  1. Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

Carlton Davis was one of the brightest spots on an Auburn defense that struggled often in 2015. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Davis has the size to match up well with the SEC’s most physical receivers, and he held his own to the tune of 56 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, .5 sacks, 8 pass breakups and a forced fumble as a true freshman. His 3 interceptions tied for the most by an SEC freshman.

  1. Byron Cowart, DE, Auburn

A five-star prospect that signed with Auburn as the top-ranked player in the 247Sports Composite, Byron Cowart didn’t make a major impact as a true freshman. Though he saw action in all 13 games, Cowart played just 220 snaps and recorded only six tackles. Though his first year on campus may have been disappointing, it’s far too early to call Cowart a bust – he’s got elite talent for a pass rusher and should take a big step forward in 2016.

  1. Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri

A severe knee injury cut Terry Beckner Jr.’s freshman season short, but the 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle made five starts in 10 games, recorded 27 tackles (tied for the most on the team for an interior defensive lineman), 8 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks, as well as a fumble recovery. Time will tell whether Beckner can fully recover from surgery to repair his torn ACL and MCL, but Beckner has the talent to be one of the SEC’s top players.

  1. Kevin Toliver II, CB, LSU

Kevin Toliver II got off to a great start for LSU as a true freshman, having recorded 7 tackles (6 solo) and a pass breakup in Week 1 against Mississippi State. It was the most productive game of the season in terms of tackles for the 6-foot-2, 195-pound cornerback.

Toliver played in all 12 games for the Tigers and made eight starts. He suffered a mid-season slump – a somewhat common phenomenon for freshmen – but finished the year with 35 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 5 pass breakups and an interception. He also finished strong with 9 tackles and 3 pass breakups combined over LSU’s final three games of the season.

  1. CeCe Jefferson, DE, Florida

Yet another five-star defensive end in the 2015 recruiting class, CeCe Jefferson found immediate playing time in the defensive line rotation at Florida as a true freshman and quickly emerged as one of the team’s best pass rushers. In 14 games, Jefferson recorded 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 16 quarterback hurries. He also got stronger as the season progressed, with 2 sacks and 6.5 TFLs coming in November.

  1. Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M

Most interior defensive linemen fly under the radar because their impact doesn’t always correlate with the stat sheet. Defensive tackles aren’t expected to rack up tackles, and any sacks that come from the inside of the defensive line are a bonus. Instead, a player like Texas A&M’s Daylon Mack is asked to take on multiple blockers at the line of scrimmage so that the linebackers behind him can make tackles in the running game and that pass rushers on the outside can get to the quarterback.

That said, Mack was impressive in his debut season with 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. He benefitted greatly from the extra attention defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall required on the outside. Expect more of the same as a sophomore.

  1. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

With Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette ahead of him on the depth chart, Derrius Guice saw limited action as a true freshman in 2015, but still made a big impact. Guice gained 436 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns (including a 50-yarder and a 47-yarder) on just 51 carries – an SEC-best 8.55 yards per carry. And he didn’t just beat up on soft competition; Guice gaines 302 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts in SEC play.

The 5-foot-11, 222-pound Baton Rouge native earned his first 100-yard game and his first TD against South Carolina with 161 rushing yards on 16 carries. Aiming to get the football in his hands more often, LSU made Guice the team’s main kick returner late in the season, and he averaged 23.6 yards on 20 returns.

Guice’s role will be limited again in 2016 because of Fournette, but expect LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to find creative ways to utilize one of the SEC’s most explosive playmakers.

  1. Dre Greenlaw, LB, Arkansas

One of the more underrated true freshmen in the SEC in 2015, Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw signed with the Razorbacks as a 6-foot-1, 220-pound, three-star safety prospect that most expected to redshirt in 2015. Instead, Greenlaw played in all 13 games, including 11 starts, and recorded 95 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and two forced fumbles.

Greenlaw earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after he recorded a career-high 16 tackles, 0.5 TFLs and a pass breakup in a thrilling 54-46 four-overtime victory over Auburn. He took player of the week honors a second time against LSU with 12 tackles, including 1 sack and 1 forced fumble as the Hogs won 31-14.

Looking ahead to next season, Greenlaw is one of nine defensive starters that return for the Razorbacks, which is the most in the SEC.

  1. Terry Godwin, WR, Georgia

An electric 5-foot-11, 174-pound athlete that signed with the in-state Georgia Bulldogs as a five-star prospect, Terry Godwin earned early playing time at wide receiver as a true freshman. And, when the offensive unit hit a rough patch after star running back Nick Chubb was lost for the season with a severe knee injury, Godwin took on a more diverse role as a part-time Wildcat quarterback.

Godwin ranked second on the team with 35 receptions for 379 yards (a modest 10.8-yard average) in 2014, and he was at his best in the second half of the season. Against Missouri, Godwin set a career-high with 78 receiving yards. He found the end zone for the first time on a 28-yard run against Kentucky, caught his first TD pass against Georgia Southern and set a career-high with eight receptions and tied his personal best 78 yards against Georgia Tech. In the Taxslayer Bowl, Godwin threw a 44-yard touchdown pass in addition to hauling in his second career TD catch in Georgia’s 24-17 victory over Penn State.

Look for Godwin to take over for Malcolm Mitchell as the Bulldogs top receiving threat in 2016.

  1. Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama

Bo Scarbrough didn’t see much action in 2015, and for good reason. With Derrick Henry running over, around and past defenses on his way to school records and the Heisman Trophy and senior Kenyan Drake possessing a Reggie Bush-like skillset as a runner, receiver and return man, the Crimson Tide didn’t need Scarbrough to play a major role.

However, Henry and Drake are off to the NFL, and Scarbrough and Damien Harris are the only two running backs left on the Alabama roster with any collegiate playing experience. While Scarbrough had just 18 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in 2015, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Henry clone has the talent – specifically a unique blend of athleticism, speed and power – to be one of the SEC’s most productive running backs. He’s also a better pass-catcher than Henry, which is an added bonus.

  1. Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida

Like many freshman, Antonio Callaway got off to a slow start in his first collegiate action. However, by the end of the season, Callaway had established himself as Florida’s best receiver and was a major factor in the Gators’ run to the SEC East title.

Callaway led the Gators with 678 receiving yards and led the SEC with an average of 19.4 yards per catch, which came largely as the result of three touchdown receptions of 53 yards or longer. His most important play of the year came on a 63-yard score on fourth down in the fourth quarter against Tennessee that helped Florida steal a 28-27 victory – when Callaway set career-highs with 5 receptions and 112 receiving yards after notching a combined 4 receptions for 60 yards across his first three contests.

Overall, Callaway recorded 35 catches, including 4 TDs, and also took two punts to the house. Needless to say, Callaway proved himself to be one of the most electric playmakers in the SEC as a freshman, and with the early departure of Demarcus Robinson to the NFL, Callaway should be even more involved in the Gators offense as a sophomore.

  1. Arden Key, DE, LSU

A four-star recruit, Arden Key came to LSU with elite athletic skills and a projectable 6-foot-6 frame, but was undersized for a defensive end at just 231 pounds. Nevertheless, he made an immediate impact as a pass rusher for the Tigers thanks to a lightning-quick first step.

In his first collegiate action, Key announced his presence to the SEC by sacking Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, recording two QB hurries, knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage and tallying three tackles in a 21-19 victory over the Bulldogs.

Key recorded 41 total tackles as a freshman, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks along with 9 QB hurries – one of which resulted in a pick-six by Deion Jones against Eastern Michigan. But, Key didn’t simply rack up statistics against poor competition: Every sack and tackle behind the line of scrimmage he had in 2015 came against an SEC opponent.

Looking ahead to 2016, Key has had the benefit of a full year on campus, bulking up in the weight room and dining halls. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect we see a bigger, stronger, Arden Key in Tiger Stadium next season.

  1. Marlon Humphrey, DB, Alabama

After redshirting in 2014, Marlon Humphrey won a starting spot at cornerback for the Alabama prior to the ’15 season opener, started all 15 games and earned Freshman All-SEC honors while helping the Crimson Tide win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

All of Humphrey’s interceptions came in big moments. His first came against Georgia in a matchup with the undefeated No.8-ranked Bulldogs. Humphrey then picked off Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter of a 31-6 victory over Mississippi State, and added another interception against Florida in the SEC Championship Game. In addition to picking off three passes, Humphrey recorded 45 tackles, 3.5 TFLs with 2 forced fumbles and 8 pass breakups.

With the national championship on the line against Clemson, Humphrey put together one of the best all-around games with 5 tackles, 1 TFL and 2 pass breakups.

  1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

Minkah Fitzpatrick made a major impact for the national champion Crimson Tide on defense and special teams in his first season. A nine-game starter at nickel back, Fitzpatrick played in 14 games and led all SEC freshmen in passes defended (13) and pass breakups (11).

Fitzpatrick also picked off two passes against Texas A&M and returned both for touchdowns, and also scored after blocking a punt against Georgia. He also earned his second career sack against the Bulldogs, having recorded the first in Week 1 against Wisconsin.

Though he was burned for two touchdown passes in the national title game, Fitzpatrick recorded 4 tackles and 2 pass breakups against Clemson. In all, he was responsible for 45 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks over the course of the season, and played well enough that he is likely to take over for Geno Matias-Smith at cornerback in 2016.

  1. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

While Christian Kirk stole the headlines among SEC freshmen during the first half of last season, Alabama’s run to the SEC championship and national title allowed Calvin Ridley to become the SEC leader with 89 receptions and rank No. 2 in the league with 1,045 receiving yards. Ridley, whose 7 receiving touchdowns tied Kirk for the most by SEC freshmen last season, also broke the school record for receiving yards by a freshman that was previously held by Amari Cooper.

In his first four games, Ridley caught a combined 17 passes for 125 yards (7.4 yards per reception) and 1 TD. However, he exploded for back-to-back 100-yard performances against Georgia and Arkansas, which included TD grabs of 45 and 81 yards, respectively. From that point forward, Ridley became the top deep threat for the Crimson Tide, and one of the most dynamic receivers in the SEC.

Though he struggled with just 14 yards on 6 catches in the national championship game, Ridley was a major factor in getting Alabama to Glendale with 102 receiving yards on eight catches (including a 55-yarder) in the SEC Championship Game and eight receptions for 138 yards and two TDs (including a 50-yarder) in the 38-0 victory over Michigan State in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

Alabama must break in yet another new starting quarterback in 2016, but the passing game should be a major strength for the Tide because Ridley is one of the best wide receivers in the nation.

  1. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

Many of the players on this list were five-star prospects that arrived on campus expected to make a major impact from Day 1. Christian Kirk was a highly regarded and highly recruited four-star receiver out of Arizona, but faced modest expectations in part because of a loaded Aggies receiving corps that included former five-star Ricky Seals-Jones, record-setting wideout Josh Reynolds, and 2014 freshman phenom Speedy Noil.

Nevertheless, Kirk managed to explode onto the scene with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown and a 79-yard punt return for a score in Week 1 against Arizona State on his way to 1,009 receiving yards and 7 TDs on 80 catches, and 2 touchdowns on punt returns.

Kirk ranked third in the SEC behind Leonard Fournette (183.3) and Derrick Henry (154.0) in all-purpose yards per game (137.6) in 2015. In addition to his receiving totals, Kirk also ran for 54 yards, returned punts for 341 yards and had 385 yards on kick returns – on a total of 125 plays. His 14.3 yards per play topped the league.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Kirk won’t sneak up on anyone in 2016, but Seals-Jones, Reynolds, and Noil are all back to keep defenses from focusing too heavily on the rising super sophomore. The Aggies should put up big numbers with Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight under center and new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone calling the plays in College Station, and Kirk should have a very productive second season.

Other potential super sophomores to watch (in alphabetical order):

QB Drew Barker, Kentucky; TE C.J. Conrad, Kentucky; RB Malik Dear, Mississippi State; KR Rashad Fenton, South Carolina; QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State; RB Damien Harris, Alabama; DB Ronnie Harrison, DB, Alabama; LB Jeff Holland, Auburn; DB Tim Irvin, Auburn; WR Tyron Johnson, LSU; LB Darrin Kirkland, Jr., Tennessee, Auburn; TE C’yontai Lewis, Florida; QB Drew Lock, Missouri; WR Damarkus Lodge, Ole Miss; DL Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee; QB Lorenzo Nunez, South Carolina; LB Natrez Patrick, Georgia; DL Daron Payne, Alabama; DB Jamal Peters, Mississippi State; DT Dontavius Russell, Auburn; WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina; RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida; DB Donovan Sheffield, Vanderbilt; QB Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt; DL Dreeland Speaks, Ole Miss; QB Elijah Staley, Mississippi State; OL Maea Teuhema, LSU; DL Shy Tuttle, Tennessee; WR Preston Williams, Tennessee