The 2017 season seems like an eternity ago, doesn’t it?

During that football season — years before we faced the specter of playing in empty or near-empty stadiums, or not playing football at all, due to a global pandemic — a guy named Justin Jefferson suited up at receiver for LSU but never registered a reception.

The next season, he led the Tigers in receiving. Last year, the country. Today, he’s prepping for a rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Also back in 2017, Joe Burrow spent a second consecutive season backing up J.T. Barrett at Ohio State. The rest of that story requires no rehashing.

So who will be the next breakout tale in the SEC, whose conference-only slate is set to begin in about a month? Predicting these things is far from an exact science. But here’s a top candidate from each school who could rise up the ranks during a season unlike any other.

Alabama: Mac Jones, QB

Early reports out of Tuscaloosa are that Jones has already taken on a leadership role during fall camp. While he’ll be pushed by 5-star true freshman Bryce Young (and redshirt freshman Paul Tyson), Jones has the experience and moxie to slide into the Crimson-colored throne vacated by Tua Tagovailoa. He filled in admirably last year with not nearly as much preparation. That résumé includes more than 1,500 passing yards and a 14:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 12 appearances last fall.

Arkansas: Treylon Burks, WR

Even while playing alongside top wideouts Mike Woods and Cheyenne O’Grady, Burks was a versatile threat as a true freshman — 29 catches, 475 yards, 9 rushes, he even threw a pass. Weirdly, the one thing he didn’t do was find the end zone. Expect that to change in a big way for the 6-3, 232-pound former 4-star recruit from Warren, Arkansas. Especially now that strong-armed Feleipe Franks is behind center for the Hogs.

Auburn: D.J. Williams, RB

It’s tempting to put defensive back Smoke Monday on this list if for no other reason than his grandad’s fantastic nickname-choosing abilities. But if Auburn’s offense is to take the next step with Bo Nix under center, a complementary ground game is imperative. Enter Williams, who averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season as a true freshman. He’ll have an opportunity too; JaTarvious Whitlow, the Tigers’ leading rusher the past 2 seasons, entered the transfer portal months ago.

Florida: Mohamoud Diabate, LB

OK, so wideout Trevon Grimes is the popular pick in this spot, and for good reason as he averaged almost 15 yards per reception last season. And Kyle Pitts might be the best tight end in America. But Diabate could be the lynchpin of a defense that has pundits presenting the Gators as a dark horse SEC champion candidate. Diabate, a 4-star from Auburn, Alabama, recorded 4 sacks last season despite starting just one contest.

Georgia: Lewis Cine, S

Cine has drawn comparisons to J.R. Reed, the fellow safety who helped Georgia to the 2017 conference crown and National Championship Game. The Cedar Hill, Texas, prospect started all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season, recording 20 tackles and an interception. If UGA’s defense is to be championship-caliber again, Cine will likely be a big reason.

Kentucky: Kelvin Joseph, DB

While Joseph transferred from a place known as “DBU,” the former 247Sports composite top-100 recruit joins a program whose top 5 defensive backs from 2019 were either drafted or received training camp invites. Joseph played in 11 games as a true freshman at LSU before being suspended for a violation of team rules then later entering the transfer portal.

LSU: Dare Rosenthal, LT

The Tigers return 1 starter on the O-line from last year’s national championship squad. Rosenthal, a redshirt freshman, is in line to take over for 4th-round NFL draft pick Saahdiq Charles at left tackle, where the former filled in admirably during 3 starts last season. Rosenthal, a 6-7, 327-pound converted defensive lineman, played a total of 229 snaps in 2019. Keep an eye on tight end Arik Gilbert, too. He’s already drawing rave reviews in camp. The 6-5, 249-pound freshman from Marietta, Georgia, earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors last season.

Mississippi State: Charles Cross, LT

Mississippi State hasn’t been able to retain much top in-state talent, but it got a load of it in Cross. The 6-5, 290-pound lineman from Laurel is 1 of 3 5-stars to sign with the Bulldogs in the past decade and spent most of 2019 developing as a backup. You won’t hear his name mentioned first when discussing Mike Leach’s Air Raid invasion of the SEC, but he’ll likely play a pivotal role in pass protection for quarterback K.J. Costello.

Missouri: Kobie Whiteside, DT

It’s easy to overlook that Missouri had the No. 6 pass defense in NCAA Division I last year. One big reason the push up front generated by Whiteside, whose 6.5 sacks are tied for the most among any defensive returner in the SEC. So why will 2020 be even better? The fleet-footed, 6-1, 300-pound nose guard says he has refined his technique in an effort to close out on quarterbacks more frequently. If that pays off, look out.

Ole Miss: Kenny Yeboah, TE

The graduate transfer can block, run routes and catch passes with the best of ’em, as evidenced by his 19 catches and 5 touchdowns as a junior at Temple. Lane Kiffin has a history of developing outstanding tight ends, and his staff could find ways to look Yeboah’s way even more.

South Carolina: Zacch Pickens, DT

They love their D-linemen in Columbia, and Pickens could be the next fleet-footed giant to endear himself to the Gamecock faithful. The in-state 5-star product obviously is a known commodity in Columbia and maybe it’s a stretch to call a returning Freshman All-SEC honoree and Freshman All-American honorable mention a breakout player. But with South Carolina losing a handful of big guys up front to graduation, expect Pickens to make a big leap in terms of production as a sophomore.

Tennessee: Kivon Bennett, LB

If you want a window into Bennett’s potential, rewatch the Gator Bowl against Indiana. Bennett was everywhere, recording a pair of TFLs and generally wreaking havoc in and around the pocket against the Hoosier. The son of 5-time Pro Bowl linebacker Cornelius Bennett is expected to make a big leap in his redshirt junior year.

Texas A&M: Baylor Cupp, TE

Cupp was a 4-star member of the Aggies’ 2019 signing class, according to 247Sports. Then a leg injury kept him off the field. The 6-6 tight end from Brock, Texas, gives quarterback Kellen Mond a big, athletic frame with fantastic hands to work with this season.

Vanderbilt: Dayo Odeyingbo, DT

Yeah, he’s a senior. Yes, he started 11 of 12 games last season. Sure, he tallied 45 tackles, including 12 for loss and 1.5 sacks. But he also plays for Vanderbilt, which can limit national exposure unless one puts up gargantuan numbers — which Odeyingbo well could this fall. NFL Draft Scout projects him as a 3rd-round NFL Draft pick.