Having an elite quarterback certainly makes life easier for any football team. However, that isn’t the only factor in determining whether a team will have a successful season or not.

Every competitive team needs impact players outside of the quarterback position.

We decided to take a closer look at one player from each team in the SEC West. That player’s ability to lead, stay healthy and maintain a high level of play will be crucial in determining the success of the team he plays for.

So, who are some of those players?

Alabama: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S

Alabama is losing seven starters from last year’s defense — six of whom were selected in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft.

That’s a lot of turnover, which makes Fitzpatrick’s presence all the more crucial. Not only is he the best player on the defense, it can be argued that he’s the best player on the team.

Over the past two years, the former 5-star prospect has eight interceptions. Six came in 2016, when Fitzpatrick also added 66 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack and 7 pass deflections.

Fitzpatrick’s ability to play outside corner, slot corner — also known as the Star position in Saban’s defense — or safety gives the Crimson Tide much needed versatility on the back end of their defense.

Arkansas: Frank Ragnow, C

Ragnow was the country’s best offensive lineman in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s a hard-nosed, gritty lineman who shows excellent movement skills getting to the second level.

His ability to create space in the run game is impressive, but keeping QB Austin Allen clean this season could be even more important. The Razorbacks return four starting linemen — the lone departure was OT Dan Skipper — but Ragnow is the glue that holds the unit together.

If Ragnow can stay healthy, he will be a key contributor to what should be an impressive Razorbacks offense (and perhaps contribute a little bit on defense, too).

Auburn: Kamryn Pettway, RB

In Auburn’s case, it almost seemed as cliche to go with Pettway as it was to ignore the point of the article and go with a quarterback. Still, it’s obvious that the converted fullback will continue to be the focal point of the Tigers’ offense.

If Pettway could have stayed healthy last season, two things probably end up happening: 1) Pettway leads the SEC in rushing yards instead of Derrius Guice and 2) Pettway ends up getting an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Pettway is a load at 6-0, 240 pounds. His size allows him to physically wear down opponents. In only 10 games, he rushed for 1,224 yards and 7 touchdowns.

The amount of rushing touchdowns wasn’t overly impressive, but the 122.4 rushing yards per game checked in at No. 11 in the country. Pettway’s presence — along with fellow RB Kerryon Johnson — should really open things up for QB Jarrett Stidham and the rest of Auburn’s passing game.

LSU: Arden Key, EDGE

There were only two players who were considered for this spot: Key and RB Derrius Guice. Guice is a tempting choice, but Key is arguably the best football player in all of college football. Yes, he’s that good.

When evaluating Key, a lot of people like to see how he stacks up against former Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett — who was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft. There are those who believe Garrett is the more complete prospect, but I believe Key has the higher ceiling.

Key finished the 2016 season with 12 sacks in only 11 games. His 1.09 sacks per game led the SEC — and was good for fourth in the country.

The 6-6, 238-pound sack artist has already drawn comparisons to former Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jason Taylor. If he can stay healthy, Key should be in consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft.

Mississippi State: Martinas Rankin, OT

The most important player on Mississippi State’s team is QB Nick Fitzgerald, and it’s not even close. With that said, this article isn’t supposed to include quarterbacks, so why not turn over attention to Fitzgerald’s blindside protector?

Being an offensive lineman, Rankin doesn’t get the same recognition as other players, but he’s quietly emerged as one of the best tackles in the country.

The 6-5, 305-pound former JUCO transfer only started 10 games last season for the Bulldogs, but he really made strides following a rough start to the season. Rankin has the ability to play multiple positions along the line, but he’ll more than likely remain at left tackle this season.

Don’t be surprised if Rankin ends up being a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Ole Miss: Marquis Haynes, EDGE

At first, there was legitimate consideration for slotting OT Greg Little into this spot. The former 5-star has a chance to become one of college football’s premier offensive tackles — even as a true sophomore. With that said, Haynes ended up getting the nod due to his impressive consistency.

In three seasons, the undersized edge rusher has produced 24.5 sacks in 38 career appearances.

There is so much controversy surrounding Ole Miss, but Haynes is one of the few positives that should come from this upcoming season. It’s only a matter of time before the former prep school standout is getting after NFL quarterbacks on Sundays.

Texas A&M: Christian Kirk, WR

We still don’t know who will be the starting quarterback for A&M this season, but we do know who should be that quarterback’s favorite target. Kirk is a dynamic receiver who possesses the ability to create after the catch.

That skill will come in handy for a quarterback who won’t be asked to do too much early — if at all — this season.

Coming out of high school, some believed Kirk had the chance to be college football’s next Percy Harvin. They aren’t identical prospects, but the similarities are present.

Kirk, a former 5-star prospect from Scottsdale, Ariz., led the SEC in receptions with 83 — while also hauling in 928 yards and 9 touchdowns. This is only a year after he had managed to rack up 1,009 yards and 7 touchdowns on 80 receptions.

Kirk’s ability to also make an impact in the return game only solidifies his importance to the Aggies.