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Post-signing day SEC position rankings: wide receivers/tight ends

Signing day is in the books, and spring football is just weeks away. This week, we're taking a position-by-position look at where teams are heading into the spring. Next up, it's time to rank the league's wide receiver/tight end corps as they stand today.

1. Alabama: The Crimson Tide lost its top receiver from last year in ArDarius Stewart, and uber athletic tight end O.J. Howard is finally gone after approximately 30 years at Alabama. But former top receiver Calvin Ridley returns, and has all the talent to be an All-American. Yes, Alabama is very young at receiver, but there's a ridiculous amount of excitement surrounding guys like Cam Sims, Trevon Diggs and No. 3-rated WR Jerry Jeudy, who is already on campus. Alabama is very deep and very talented at pass-catcher, meaning the Tide's next offensive coordinator should be pretty happy.

2. Florida: The Gators return their top seven receivers/tight ends, including one of the SEC's best in Antonio Callaway and mismatch tight end DeAndre Goolsby. Brandon Powell and Dre Massey could be deadly in the slot, while rising sophomores Tyrie Cleveland, Freddie Swain and Joshua Hammond made immediate impacts. ESPN 300 receivers James Robinson IV, Daquon Green and tight end Kemore Gamble could find roles right away.

3. Auburn: Jarrett Stidham should totally revamp this offense with a solid group of young receivers to work with. Darius Slayton, Kyle Davis (the No. 5 WR in the 2016 class), Eli Stove and Ryan Davis are all back. Nate Craig-Myers (the No. 2 WR last year) should also see his role increase. These guys have the talent, but still have a lot to prove. No. 1 JUCO TE Sal Cannella should also immediately help Stidham.

4. Missouri: These Tigers return their top four receivers from 2016 -- J'Mon Moore, Dimetrios Mason, Johnathon Johnson and Emanuel Hall -- three of which who registered more than 430 yards last year. Nate Brown, who missed last season with an ankle injury, is back after ranking second on the team in receiving in 2015. Moore was one of the SEC's best, catching 62 passes for 1,012 yards and eight touchdowns.

5. Georgia: The Bulldogs return their top five pass-catchers from last year, and ceiling for guys like Terry Godwin and Riley Ridley still figure to be pretty high. Georgia lost de-everything receiver Isaiah McKenzie, but tight end Isaac Nauta could be one of the SEC's best. ESPN 300 members Jeremiah Holloman and Mark Webb are welcomed additions to a receiving corps needing some more speed.

6. Ole Miss: New starting quarterback Shea Patterson won't have recording-setting tight end Evan Engram or top receivers Damore'ea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo. However, Van Jefferson had a solid freshman campaign, catching 49 passes for 543 yards, and former ESPN 300 WR A.J. Brown has often been compared to former Ole Miss star Laquon Treadwell. Rising junior DaMarkus Lodge has big-play potential, while D.K. Metcalf should bounce back after a broken foot that cost him most of his 2016 season.

7. South Carolina: This was actually one of the most surprising groups in the SEC. Returning receivers Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards caught 103 passes for 1,373 yards last year, while Hayden Hurst ranked second in the SEC for yards by a tight end (616). K.C. Crosby provides another solid tight end weapon. The signing of ESPN 300 receivers Shi Smith and OrTre Smith were big gets for Will Muschamp.

8.Kentucky: Mark Stoops lost leading receiver Jeff Badet to transfer, but upperclassmen Garrett Johnson and Dorian Baker are back. Tight end C.J. Conrad also returns after catching 19 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns. The Wildcats signed four receivers in this class, including early enrollee Clevan Thomas.

9. Texas A&M: Top receiver Josh Reynolds is gone, as are Ricky Seals-Jones and Speedy Noil. However, Christian Kirk is an absolute stud for the Aggies and all the receiving spotlight is now on him. That's great but no one else on the team returns with double-digit catches. 2016 ESPN 300 members Clyde Leflore-Chriss and Quartney Davis will be in their second years with the program, while 2017 ESPN 300 members Hezekiah Jones and Jhamon Ausbon enrolled early.

10. LSU: The losses of Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural take two big-play threats out of this offense, but D.J. Chark returns after a breakout season (466 yards). However, 60 percent of LSU's receptions and receiving yardage are gone. This is an unproven group that will have to rely heavily on 2016 ESPN 300 signees Stephen Sullivan, Drake Davis and Dee Anderson, who totaled just five catches last season.

11. Mississippi State: Recording-setting receiver Fred Ross is gone, but Donald Gray, who caught 41 passes for 709 yards and five touchdowns, should jump right into the go-to receiver role. Rising junior Malik Dear hasn't been tremendously productive, but he should have his number called more in Year 3. Rising sophomores Farrod Green (tight end) and Keith Mixon will be relied upon more. Early enrollee Austin Williams was the only receiver to sign in 2017.

12. Vanderbilt: C.J. Duncan, Trent Sherfield and Caleb Scott all recorded more than 400 yards last year, but none hit the 500-yard mark. Only Sherfield scored a touchdown -- one. Rising sophomores Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney (tight end) both caught 20-plus passes last year, and will be relied upon more this fall. Vandy needed receiving help, but only signed two-star James Bostic.

13. Arkansas: This receiving corps looks a lot different from the last two years. Gone are Drew Morgan, Keon Hatcher, Jeremy Sprinkle and Dominique Reed, who caught 158 passes for 2,117 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Jared Cornelius is the only pass-catcher returning who had more than 20 catches last season, but coach Bret Bielema has to be stoked about signing No. 1 JUCO WR Brandon Martin, who is in Fayetteville.

14. Tennessee: The Vols lost top receiver Josh Malone to the NFL draft, but Jauan Jennings was a very pleasant surprise, catching 40 passes for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. However, no other receiver or tight end returns with more than 20 receptions from last season. Tennessee is really hoping that its 2016 crop of receivers, which featured three four-star prospects and No. 7 JUCO prospect Jeff George really pans out, because the Vols are in need of another receiving playmaker.