As evidenced by the recent hires of defensive coordinators Kirby Smart at Georgia and Will Muschamp at South Carolina, SEC assistants are popular head coaching candidates, especially within the conference.

Here are five current SEC assistants who look to have futures as head coaches:

1. Zach Azzanni, Tennessee passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach – Azzanni has youth (he turns 40 next August) and experience (16 years of coaching) on his side. In three years on Butch Jones’ staff at Tennessee, Azzanni has served as recruiting coordinator (2013-2014) and passing game coordinator (2015), as well as coaching receivers.

The next logical step for Azzanni seems to be offensive coordinator, and his name was floated as a potential play-caller for D.J. Durkin at Maryland, his former colleague at Florida in 2010 during Urban Meyer’s final season with the Gators. Azzanni could potentially follow in Meyer’s footsteps and make the leap from coaching wide receivers to being the head man at a smaller school. As a member of the Meyer coaching tree and a top recruiter, particularly in the South Florida area, it’s only a matter of time before Azzanni gets a shot.

2. Dan Enos, Arkansas offensive coordinator – Enos was recently mentioned as the potential offensive coordinator for Smart at Georgia, until it was revealed his contract contains a clause he can only leave for a head coaching position.

The clause will probably come into effect in the next couple years, as some school will want the 47-year-old Enos to try to replicate Arkansas’ high-powered offense (35.2 points per game, 456.8 yards per game).

3. Chris Rumph, Florida defensive line coach – As part of the Nick Saban coaching tree, the 43-year-old Rumph will be a hot commodity in the coming years. Rumph’s name has been floated as a potential member of Smart’s staff at Georgia. With Smart’s defensive expertise, Rumph might be offered the title of defensive coordinator (and a raise) while focusing on the defensive line.

A coordinator position, whether at Georgia or somewhere else, shouldn’t be far off for Rumph. If he can field successful defenses, expect schools with head coaching vacancies to begin courting him to bring Saban’s process to their teams.

4. Jeremy Pruitt, Georgia defensive coordinator/secondary coach – Pruitt hasn’t been retained by Smart yet, but he hasn’t landed anywhere else either. The fiery defensive coordinator clashed with former UGA coach Mark Richt by seeking responsibilities usually reserved for the head coach.

The 41-year-old Pruitt has risen in the coaching world from serving as an assistant at Hoover High School in 2006 to earning a seven-figure salary at Georgia in 2015. Pruitt’s work with championship defenses (Alabama in 2009, 2011 and 2012; FSU in 2013) should eventually lead to a head coaching position.

5. Billy Napier, Alabama wide receivers coach – On a list dominated by the Saban coaching tree, it’s only appropriate to include a current Crimson Tide assistant. Though Napier was fired from Clemson as offensive coordinator in 2011, his Saban connections have linked him to play-caller vacancies at Florida last year and Georgia’s current opening.

As a heralded recruiter with multiple seasons of Saban influence, the 36-year old Napier likely will take the next step on the coaching ladder before too long.