HOOVER, Ala. — For a conference that usually has more ability than any in America, you wouldn’t have known it Monday.

It was Day 1 of SEC Media Days, and there wasn’t a lot of star power on display at the Wynfrey Hotel. Perhaps the league will indeed miss those 12 first-round picks and 53 selections overall in the most recent NFL Draft.

A relatively drab offseason led to a similarly drab affair at the podium, as Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee kicked off the event. Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema, who is usually as entertaining as anyone behind a microphone, was somewhat subdued considering the fact that he and his wife had a baby girl just the other day.

Once Bielema told his story about accidentally butt-dialing commissioner Greg Sankey, the laughs were few and far between.

While it's easy to root for Richardson, he probably he won't be pivotal to Bielema's success or failure in 2017.

Each team brings three players, and for the Hogs it was quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow and cornerback Kevin Richardson II. While Allen and Ragnow are household names, Richardson missed most of 2016 due to injury.

During his opening remarks, Bielema talked more about Allen in the classroom than on the field. He wanted to make sure reporters knew Ragnow was tremendous as a person in addition to talented as a player. Richardson, a former “undersized, underrecruited, underdeveloped” walk-on, embodies the attitude preached in Fayetteville.

But there was no tailback Devwah Whaley or receiver Jared Cornelius. No linebacker Dre Greenlaw or cornerback Ryan Pulley.

Whaley, taking over as the starter for forced-into-retirement Rawleigh Williams III, could be a 1,500-yard guy if things go his way. Finally the primary target offensively, Cornelius is a sneaky candidate to go over 1,000 through the air.

Greenlaw and Pulley have All-SEC potential, too. With Brooks Ellis out of eligibility, chances are Greenlaw will lead the defense in tackles after a broken foot cost him half of this past season. Don’t be surprised if Pulley develops into one of the conference’s better cover men after a breakout sophomore campaign a year ago.

While it’s easy to root for Richardson (below), he probably he won’t be pivotal to Bielema’s success or failure in 2017.

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

This is part of the battle between schools and media outlets. Print, radio and TV want juicy quotes from top players. Allen will generate interest, as will Ragnow to a lesser extent, but not Richardson.

That being said, in an increasingly reactionary media landscape, you can’t blame a program for going a bit on the conservative side when coming up with its invite list. Better to reward a humble senior who will color within the lines than a cocky sophomore who might generate the wrong kind of buzz.

So instead of, say, Whaley professing that he’s going to rush for 2,000 yards, we got Richardson going all “American Idol.”

“I never imagined doing any of this,” Richardson said. “I just hoped I could play one day. But now, being a starting player with a scholarship, voted captain and being at Media Days is something I could never have dreamt of doing. I’m living a dream right now.”

LSU wasn’t much different, as Ed Orgeron — trying to tone down his rep as a rah-rah position coach — accompanied running back Derrius Guice, wideout D.J. Chark and defensive end Christian LaCouture.

"Being a starting player with a scholarship, voted captain and being at Media Days is something I could never have dreamt of doing. I'm living a dream right now." -- Kevin Richardson II

Needless to say, Guice is one of the league’s standouts and deserves to be in the Heisman Trophy discussion. Only starting half of the schedule due to the presence of Leonard Fournette, Guice still led the SEC with 1,387 yards rushing last year and set a single-game record for the Tigers with 285 against Texas A&M.

Guice even dressed the part by wearing a pink jacket and bow tie while flashing an ear-to-ear grin throughout his Q&A.

Chark may be the leading returning receiver for the Bayou Bengals, but he only reeled in 26 balls. LaCouture didn’t play at all last year due to a torn ACL suffered in fall camp.

Quarterback Danny Etling was noticeably absent. Even if he’s a marginal talent, he’s the returning starter at the game’s most important position. Defensive end Arden Key was nowhere to be found, either. He’s arguably the best pure pass rusher in the league and looks like a surefire first-rounder, but he wasn’t made available.

Orgeron likely didn’t want Key having to answer questions about why he missed spring practice for reasons yet to be explained.

As a result, LaCouture was asked about both Etling and Key. It’s not LaCouture’s fault, but Etling and Key are simply more interesting stories and more critical to LSU right now.

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

“Last year was very tough,” LaCouture (above) said. “It was something for me that was probably one of the worst years of my life, to be honest.”

As for Tennessee, only the most passionate of Rocky Top fans recognized the kids alongside coach Butch Jones. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has 1 career interception. Guard Jashon Robertson isn’t coming off All-SEC honors. Neither is defensive tackle Kendal Vickers. They’re seniors, too.

It’s understandable that Jones didn’t bring a QB. He’s yet to decide if Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano is his starter.

Still, running back John Kelly had a couple of 100-yard games last year. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings caught that Hail Mary against Georgia. Safety Todd Kelly Jr. was the team’s leading tackler. Kick returner Evan Berry is electric.

This is one of the most covered media events in the sport, but teams are going out of their way to avoid headlines, not make them.

From what I could tell, Jones picked the players that could best recite the same canned answers he gave when it was his turn in the spotlight. Moseley, Robertson and Vickers all discussed their back-to-back nine-win seasons and three straight bowl victories. It didn’t even matter what the actual question was.

Seriously, you should read the transcriptions for each of them. They’re practically cut-and-paste.

“He really appreciates all of the things we’re doing day in and day out,” Robertson said of Jones. “We feel the same way about him.”

What Jones apparently appreciates is Robertson’s capacity — along with that of Moseley and Vickers — to toss around a few statistics that could help take him off the hot seat. It was all remarkably rehearsed.

The rest of the week might be lackluster, as well. Passers like Georgia’s Jacob Eason, Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald and Alabama’s Jalen Hurts — the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year — were left at home. Big-time defenders like Kentucky’s Jordan Jones and Missouri’s Marcell Frazier are also missing.

This is one of the most covered media events in the sport, but teams are going out of their way to avoid headlines, not make them.