There are few more coveted commodities in college football than a five-star recruit.

There simply aren’t very many of them to begin with — there were 35 in the class of 2015, per the 247sports industry composite — and dozens of schools are vying for each of them. To land one is a major boost for a program (or just another notch on the belt for the Alabamas and Southern Cals of the world).

Because of their inherent talent, those former five-stars sometimes get a longer leash than others might. Fans anxiously await the moment that a prized recruit is ready to make the leap to stardom.

The SEC is always loaded with those former five-stars; over the last three years, the conference has signed a little more than half of the nation’s five-star prospects. Several have lived up to their billing right away, guys like Nick Chubb, Leonard Founette, Laremy Tunsil and Cam Robinson.

We’re still waiting for some of the others to emerge. These five former five-stars need to make the leap this year.

LB Reuben Foster, Alabama — Foster has been making headlines since his high school days, first for his recruiting flip from Auburn to Alabama, then for his bone-crunching hits on special teams (and in practice) once he got to Tuscaloosa. It’s time for Foster to be more than just a special teams demon and learn the playbook, something it sounds like he’s struggled with, and actually make an impact on defense. He hasn’t taken ahold of the spot next to Reggie Ragland yet, competing with Shaun Dion Hamilton for a starting role, but as a junior this might be Foster’s last chance to become the star many envisioned. Alabama could definitely use his speed in the linebacking corps, making his development more pressing.

DL Chris Jones, Mississippi State — When Jones arrived on campus in 2013, he was a raw physical specimen still learning the nuances of football after converting from the hardwood. Now, after serving as a role player his first two years and often not knowing where he’d line up week-to-week, Jones is going to be counted on to be a star and a leader. Manny Diaz is going to use him all over the line, varying by the snap, counting on Jones to be the disruptive force that Preston Smith and Fletcher Cox were before him. The fate of MSU’s defense could depend on him making a leap from solid to great.

TE O.J. Howard, Alabama — Everyone is still wondering what happened to Howard last year. After a strong freshman season in 2013, many expected him to be a big-time cog and All-American candidate in Lane Kiffin’s offense in 2014. Instead, he went the first three games without making a catch, and in his best game of the season (three catches for 81 yards against Ole Miss), the play we remember is when he was out-jumped by a 5-foot-9 cornerback for a game-sealing interception. Howard finished the year with 17 grabs for 260 yards, a stagnation from his freshman year. With so many of Alabama’s best receivers from last year gone, it’s time for him to become a part of the passing game.

RB Kelvin Taylor, Florida — Taylor has been a solid backup for his first two years, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and piling up more than 1,000 yards combined. With Matt Jones now cashing checks to play in our nation’s capital, the starting job appears to be all Taylor’s. If his productivity dips in a full-time role, though, there are two touted freshman waiting in the wings to steal carries in Jordan Scarlett and D’Anfernee McGriff. The Gators are lacking for veteran talent, and Taylor stepping up as a leader on the field would be highly beneficial to Florida’s chances.

RB/CB Brandon Williams, Texas A&M — As a senior, it’s obviously Williams’ last chance to shine. He’s going to give it a go at a new position, too. Williams was originally a five-star running back who signed with Oklahoma in 2011, transferring to Texas A&M in 2012. On Thursday, Kevin Sumlin confirmed that Williams’ move to cornerback is going to be a full-time thing, at least to start camp, but that he could move back to running back if needed. Williams has the ideal size and speed to play corner for John Chavis, and it could be the move that unleashes his athleticism on the SEC while giving Texas A&M a much-needed defensive weapon.