The SEC is the king of the NFL Draft. This is an objective fact, not a subjective opinion. For 12 consecutive years, the SEC has led all conferences in total number of draft picks, and in 7 of the past 8 years they’ve had the most first-round picks, so it’s not just quantity, but quality, too.

The 2019 NFL Draft is ever so slowly creeping up, and the SEC is again poised to make a staggering impact. Here are 5 SEC players who have helped themselves the most this year, along with 5 who haven’t.

Bear in mind, only draft-eligible players are included on this list, so Alabama fans needn’t freak out when they notice Tua Tagovailoa or Jerry Jeudy aren’t on this list.

Who has helped themselves …

5. Scottie Phillips, RB, Ole Miss

The 5-11, 211-pound JUCO transfer has burst onto the scene for the Rebels, rushing for 637-yards and 8 TDs on just 90 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He’s provided some balance to the offense with his decisive, downhill running style and ability to make one-cut and get upfield. He has shown good power, vision and burst along with natural balance and body control. In what is considered a down year for backs in the draft, Phillips could quickly rise if he continues playing as well as he has.

4. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Thompson (6-2, 196) has quickly become the new face of the retooled Tide secondary and has skyrocketed up draft boards in the process, tallying 35 tackles, 5 PDs and 2 INTs. He’s a gifted athlete with elite range and playmaking ability in coverage while also showing enough strength and physicality in run support. He has shown a nose for the ball with impressive instincts and the ability to click and close. There’s a legitimate chance he could be the latest first-round pick hailing from the Alabama secondary.

3. Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M

Before the season began I predicted no one would benefit more from Jimbo Fisher’s arrival than Williams, and so far, that’s been accurate. Currently, he’s No. 5 nationally and first in the SEC in rushing with 720 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry while finding the end zone 7 times. He looked fantastic last week against a very good Kentucky defense, rushing for 138 yards and a TD while also adding 6 receptions for 72 yards. He doesn’t have great size (5-9, 200), but he has deceptive power and runs with a low center of gravity, making him hard to bring down.

2. Jachai Polite, DE, Florida

The 6-2, 260-pound junior has been highly effective getting after the QB this year, racking up 6 sacks in the past 4 games, including 2 each against Mississippi State and LSU, so it’s not like he’s feasting on lesser competition. He’s explosive off the ball, showing elite twitch and burst with the ability to both dip and bend underneath and run the arc. His speed off the edge allows for an effective inside spin-counter once he gets OTs cheating to the outside. He looks like a natural 3-4 OLB in the NFL who can be devastating off the edge.

1. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

The 6-6, 250-pound athletic marvel has prototypical length and burst off the edge, showing impressive flexibility and rare lateral quickness.

Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Many thought that with the attention he’d receive this fall, after tallying 10.5 sacks last year, he wouldn’t be able to replicate similar sack numbers, but he’s been even better this year, compiling 8 sacks and 10.5 TFLs in just 6 games, which is second nationally and best in the SEC. With his length and skill set he offers the flexibility to potentially to play in various fronts at the next level, and could wind up being the first edge rusher off the board, especially if he continues his torrid pace.

Who hasn’t helped themselves …

5. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina

By no means has Samuel had a poor season, catching 26 passes for 294 yards and 3 TDs, but he hasn’t shown the breathtaking, game-breaking speed and explosiveness that he did early last season before breaking his leg. Halfway through his senior season, he still hasn’t crossed 100 receiving yards in a game and has half as many total TDs as a receiver/rusher/returner this year than he did in just 3 games in 2017. I think as the season goes on and he continues getting healthier and more comfortable, his play and stock will improve.

4. Martez Ivey, OT, Florida

There’s no denying his natural athleticism, but Ivey has continued to struggle with consistency as a pass blocker in his senior season. Speed off the edge particularly has been troublesome, and much of that comes down to poor footwork and hands. He’s looked good as a run blocker in the Gators’ zone-heavy scheme, however, and I believe that his NFL future might come inside at OG, where he’s spent a considerable amount of his time in Gainesville.

3. Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn

Stidham carries almost no blame here as this is on both HC Gus Malzahn and OC Chip Lindsey, because their offensive game plan this year has been utterly abysmal. They have arguably the most talented QB in the country, who can make accurate throws with good velocity to all three levels, with a talented crop of receivers, yet the Tigers are still running the ball 11 times more than pass every game, despite a porous offensive line and lacking a feature back.

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Scouts will be able to see past the terrible scheme he’s been in so I don’t think this season will ultimately hurt him on draft day, but he undoubtedly hasn’t been put in position to succeed this year.

2. Raekwon Davis, DE, Alabama

From a physical skill set perspective, there might not be a more gifted or talented player in the 2019 draft class, but the 6-7, 316-pound DE/DT hasn’t followed up a terrific sophomore season as well as he would have liked. After leading the Tide in 2017 with 8.5 sacks, Davis, through 6 games, has yet to record a sack and has tallied just 1.5 TFLs, being outplayed upfront by both Isaiah Buggs and Quinnen Williams. Granted, he’s facing a lot of double-teams, which has freed up Buggs and Williams, but he still hasn’t had the season many were expecting.

1. Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi State

In the not-so-distant past it looked like Fitzgerald had a chance to be a first-round pick, but he’s regressed considerably since his damn fine season of 2016. Now halfway through his senior season, he’s on pace for the worst passing season of his career as he’s completing just 49.6 percent of his passes for 709 yards with 4 TDs and 3 INTs. He still has a future in the NFL because he’s 6-5, 240 pounds with speed, power and athleticism, but week-by-week it’s becoming more and more apparent it won’t be at QB, simply because of poor accuracy.