The SEC is a hotbed for recruiting.

Many of the country’s best football talents reside in the South. Most of the schools in the SEC have a good football tradition with their programs, attracting talented players.

Many 5-star players choose a school in the south to play their college ball. Not all highly ranked recruits pan out, but many have had successful careers in the SEC.

Let’s take a look at all the 5-star players from 2013 to 2017 that are still playing in the SEC (in order of recruiting service rankings from 247 Sports at the time):

2013

Robert Foster — Alabama WR

Foster has underwhelmed at this point after his shoulder injury as a sophomore, but he looks poised for a breakout senior season with ArDarius Stewart and O.J. Howard gone.

2014

Da’Shawn Hand — Alabama DE

It will be interesting to see how the story unfolds for one of Alabama’s most experienced defensive linemen in 2017 after he recently was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

Tony Brown — Alabama CB

Brown and the secondary should be the strength of the Alabama defense after crucial losses at linebacker and the defensive line.

Rashaan Evans — Alabama LB

For a linebacker, Evans has outstanding speed and should be part of the new faces seen on Alabama’s defense.

Bo Scarbrough — Alabama RB

Like Derrick Henry, Eddie Lacy, Trent Richardson and other great Alabama running backs, Scarbrough is a force. He was ‘Bama’s top runner late in the 2016 season, but he’ll likely share the load in 2017.

Lorenzo Carter — Georgia DE

Many expected Carter to leave early for the NFL. He returned and will be one of the centerpieces of coach Kirby Smart’s defense.

Sony Michel — Georgia RB

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for both Michel and Nick Chubb to exceed 1,000 rushing yards in 2017. Michel was the higher-rated back coming out of high school.

Tre’ Williams — Auburn LB

With 36 games of experience, he needs to be a standout for coach Gus Malzahn’s defense this season.

Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Chubb – Georgia RB

He’s not going to catch Herschel Walker’s rushing record, but Chubb will be beloved by Bulldog fans if he can help bring home a SEC title in his final year.

2015

Trenton Thompson — Georgia DT

Thompson had a breakout sophomore season, sharing the team lead with Carter in sacks (5.0), and could be a part of a dominant Georgia defensive line.

Martez Ivey — Florida OL

Ivey started at guard but is transitioning to tackle this season.

Byron Cowart — Auburn DT

Cowart is moving inside to defensive tackle this season after playing defensive end his first two years.

Kahlil McKenzie — Tennessee DT

Derek Barnett is gone and the Volunteers need an elite pass rusher to emerge. Coach Butch Jones and company are looking at McKenzie to be the guy.

Cece Jefferson — Florida DE

Jefferson needs to apply more pressure to quarterbacks in Year 3.

Kevin Toliver II — LSU CB

Toliver is trying to finish 2017 injury-free after the injury-filled 2016 season.

Calvin Ridley — Alabama WR

Ridley might be the best wide receiver in college football. His numbers dipped last season, but he’s still the most dangerous target Jalen Hurts has.

Terry Beckner Jr. — Missouri DT

Beckner hopes to play a full season without encountering an injury, unlike the first two seasons of his career.

Daylon Mack — Texas A&M DT

Mack needs some more highlights in 2017 to add to his reel.

Christian Kirk — Texas A&M WR

Kirk returns as one of the most explosive wide receivers/returners in the SEC.

Terry Godwin — Georgia WR

Godwin looks to become a favorite target of quarterback Jacob Eason this season.

Da’Ron Payne — Alabama DT

Nick Saban is counting on Payne to become the next stellar defensive lineman.

Minkah Fitzpatrick — Alabama S

Fitzpatrick always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He led the SEC with 6 interceptions last season, including two he returned for touchdowns.

Damien Harris — Alabama RB

Harris is the lightning piece of the Crimson Tide rushing attack.

2016

Greg Little — Ole Miss OT

Little looks to keep Shea Patterson out of harm’s way in 2017.

Shea Patterson — Ole Miss QB

Patterson is talented, but will the outside distractions be too much for him to handle?

Jacob Eason — Georgia QB

Can Eason lead the Bulldogs to a SEC Championship during his sophomore season?

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Brown — Auburn DT

Brown was a standout in the classroom as a freshman and looks to translate that to the field in 2017.

Ben Davis — Alabama LB

Davis has a lot to improve on as a linebacker if he wants to start at Alabama.

Isaac Nauta — Georgia TE

Named to the Mackey Award watch list in Year 2, not bad.

Mecole Hardman Jr. — Georgia WR

As a sophomore, Hardman has changed sides of the ball and will try to make an impact at receiver.

Mack Wilson — Alabama LB

Wilson wants to be more than a backup and special teams hitman.

Jonah Williams — Alabama OT

Williams came all the way from California to start as a freshman for Nick Saban. This year, he’ll likely slide from right tackle to left tackle.

McTelvin Agim — Arkansas DL

Agim has to be a force for the Arkansas defense or the Razorbacks are in trouble.

Jeffery Simmons — Mississippi State DL

Simmons did not record a sack as a freshman.

Kristian Fulton — LSU CB

Fulton has the frame to be a nuisance in the Tigers secondary.

Rashard Lawrence — LSU OL

Coach Ed Orgeron likes Lawrence’s improvement.

Benito Jones — Ole Miss DL

What will Jones and the Rebels defense look like without Dave Wommack leading the charge.

2017

Najee Harris — Alabama RB

It’s hard to get touches as a freshman running back at Alabama, but Harris might be the exception. He stood out in Alabama’s A-Day game.

Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Leatherwood — Alabama OL

As a freshman, Leatherwood will likely provide depth.

Trey Smith — Tennessee OG

Smith is going to be a wrecking ball at guard for many years to come.

Dylan Moses — Alabama LB

Moses likely won’t start, but he could see some important game action.

Isaiah Wilson — Georgia OL

Wilson could be in the mix on the offensive line when the season rolls around.

Jerry Jeudy — Alabama WR

Jeudy enrolled in the spring to get a better grasp of the offense. He was a force in the A-Day Game.

Richard LeCounte III — Georgia S

As a high school safety, LeCounter was named All-USA Team first-team defense.

LaBryan Ray — Alabama DE

Ray had a number of SEC schools vying for his services up front, but he ultimately chose Alabama.

Calvin Ashley — Auburn OT

Ashley could redshirt in 2017.

All recruits are based on 247 Sports composite rankings