The SEC lost an awesome collection of defensive end talent after last season, including potential Top 10 NFL draft picks in Shane Ray and Dante Fowler Jr. as well as a handful of other guys who should get taken in the draft.

Still, the SEC claims four- and five-star defensive ends like they’re on sale at the dollar store. A few underclassmen excelled at defensive end in 2014, leading to a pretty impressive — if difficult to rank — group of returning defensive ends.

Here are the 10 best as of Feb. 7.

10. Charles Harris, Missouri: He plays defensive end for Mizzou. That should be enough. OK, so Harris didn’t get as much playing time as a backup in 2014 as Markus Golden and Shane Ray did in ’13. He’s no first-round prospect, but he should be one heck of a pass rusher in the next couple years. It helps that he could have the best defensive tackle group in the conference working alongside him.

9. Bryan Cox Jr., Florida: New defensive coordinator Geoff Collins will appreciate inheriting this 6-foot-3, 260-pound pass rusher. Cox Jr. has flashed potential, including a three-sack performance against Tennessee in 2014, but now it’s time for him to play with consistency and become a leader on the Gators defense.

8. Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt: The SEC’s best returning pass rusher you’ve never heard of, Azubike managed four sacks in Vandy’s first three games in 2014. Injuries limited his production late in the season, but the 6-foot-4, 260-pound athlete is in line for a huge senior season for the Commodores if he can stay healthy.

7. Jarran Reed, Alabama: He led all Crimson Tide defensive linemen with 55 tackles last season, then decided against entering the NFL draft early. Reed, 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, joined Alabama just last January after starting his college career at East Mississippi Community College. He should still have room to get better and is playing alongside some very good linemen, which will also help him stand out.

6. C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss: After an outstanding start to the 2013 season, Johnson suffered a season-ending injury, then leveled off somewhat in 2014. He’s got one final chance to impress NFL scouts, and the internal competition along the defensive line for the Rebels will be fierce. Expect double-digit tackles from him this fall.

5. Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss: The three-star prep school signee made his SEC debut with 7.5 sacks. Originally a member of North Carolina’s recruiting class, he joined the Rebels in January when he couldn’t get into UNC. He reached that total despite starting just four games in 2014, and at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he’s one of the best pure pass rushers in the SEC. He could reach double-digit sacks in the fall.

4. Carl Lawson, Auburn: A freshman All-American in 2012, Lawson hurt his knee in May and never recovered enough to play. He immediately becomes a difference-maker for Auburn’s lackluster pass rush and for coordinator Will Muschamp, who should be able to find ways to leverage Lawson’s athleticism. He could make the biggest impact of any 2014 redshirt in the SEC, regardless of position.

3. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: He broke Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman sack record with 11.5 as a consensus freshman All-American. Granted, many of those came against lesser competition, and he still needs to fill out some to defend against the run (he’s listed at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds). But his athleticism is unmatched at the position in the conference, and he’s motivated to be great. Expect double-digit sack totals once again from Garrett, who should be a better all-around player for the Aggies and will benefit from John Chavis’ coaching.

2. Jonathan Allen, Alabama: The 2015 version of Trey Flowers, Allen is a good, not great, pass rusher — he made 5.5 sacks in 2014 — but he’s great at holding the point of attack against the run at a powerful 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds. That makes him an ideal 3-4 end. Already a first-team All-SEC defensive lineman as a sophomore, he should subtly become one of the conference’s best defensive players this year.

1. Derek Barnett, Tennessee: Assuming he recovers from shoulder surgery that likely will keep him from spring practice, Barnett is a clear All-SEC candidate and could be the best player on a talent-laden Vols defense. He finished second in the SEC with 20.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman and nearly caught Garrett, finishing the season with 10.5. He’s a better all-around player than Garrett and could be a Defensive Player of the Year before he leaves Knoxville.