The SEC produced seven first-round NFL draft picks this year.
In his first mock draft for 2011 (yep, it's never too early for a mock draft), ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has eight SEC players going in the first round.
The top guy, Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus, only started four games last season. But he returns as the top defensive lineman in the SEC and is projected as the No. 2 overall pick in next year's draft by McShay.
Dareus is one of three Alabama players McShay has going in the first round. He has running back Mark Ingram going No. 19 (to the New York Giants, no less) and receiver Julio Jones going No. 24.
McShay has Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck going No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft.
Here's a look at where he has the eight SEC players going:
No. 2 -- DE Marcell Dareus (Alabama), St. Louis Rams
No. 7 -- WR A.J. Green (Georgia), New England Patriots
No. 13 -- DT Jerrell Powe (Ole Miss), Denver Broncos
No. 15 -- QB Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), San Francisco 49ers
No. 19 -- RB Mark Ingram (Alabama), New York Giants
No. 24 -- WR Julio Jones (Alabama), Cincinnati Bengals
No. 27 -- CB Patrick Peterson (LSU), Baltimore Ravens
No. 31 -- C/OG Mike Pouncey (Florida), Indianapolis Colts