HOOVER, Ala. — Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel insists there are still plenty of superstars in the Southeastern Conference.

The only problem is nobody’s heard of them yet.

One year after high-profile players such as Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel brought a rockstar feel to SEC Media Days, the buzz is largely missing this week at the league’s preseason showcase.

Part of the reason is a lack of experienced quarterbacks. McCarron, Manziel, LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, South Carolina’s Connor Shaw and Georgia’s Aaron Murray are gone after impressive careers.

There are still some accomplished players in the league ”“ especially at running back. Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon and Georgia’s Todd Gurley are among the nation’s best.

Driskel said it won’t be long before others become nationally known as well.

“Some of the guys haven’t put up the numbers or the championships that guys in the past have,” Driskell said. “But there’s always going to be talent in the SEC. It’s just a matter of who makes the plays this year. You get guys who end up being household names who weren’t at the beginning of the year.”

But the shadow of Manziel, McCarron and Co. still looms, even months after they played their last college game.

The Aggies are one of several teams moving on without their stars. They had three players selected in the first round of the NFL draft ”“ which left gaping holes at quarterback, offensive tackle and receiver ”“ but Sumlin said that’s just part of the challenge of the college game.

“In college football, every two, three years you’re going to have turnover and you have to have a plan for that,” Sumlin said. “Whether it’s quarterback, whether it’s a great defender, whatever it is. To me that’s what’s exciting about college football.”

That might be true eventually, but right now it means there are a lot of unknowns.

Arguably the league’s most recognizable quarterback ”“ Auburn’s Nick Marshall ”“ didn’t come to media days after being cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Mississippi’s Bo Wallace is the only returning quarterback in the league who threw for at least 2,000 yards last season.

Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Driskel are among the most intriguing breakout candidates at quarterback.

Prescott threw for 1,940 yards last season and rushed for 829 more as a sophomore despite missing two games because of injuries. Driskel had a promising season in 2012 before missing much of last year with a leg injury.

Prescott said the SEC’s loss of so many star players won’t hurt the quality of the league.

“Those guys were unknown at some point, too, so that’s just part of the game,” Prescott said. “It leaves the door open for guys to step up and get their name out there.”

The strength of the league might be at running back, where veterans like Yeldon, Gurley and South Carolina’s Mike Davis return for another season. All three averaged around 100 yards per game during their sophomore seasons and scored at least 10 touchdowns.

But there’s a good chance some of the league’s best players ”“ along with the league’s best teams ”“ are relative unknowns right now.

“Nobody picked Missouri and Auburn to win the divisions last year,” South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier said. “That’s why we play the game. We don’t know who’s going to win ”˜em.”

Sumlin can’t escape Manziel questions

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Kevin Sumlin headed off questions about his quarterback of the future, whoever that might be.

The Aggies coach couldn’t avoid interest in life without his former superstar quarterback on Tuesday at Southeastern Conference media days. First podium question: What’s it like to not be coaching Johnny Manziel?

A few minutes later, Sumlin smiled and didn’t take the bait when asked about Manziel’s night life these days.

“Is this the SEC media days,” he asked. “That’s a great question about the Cleveland Browns.”

Closer to home, the Aggies must replace three NFL first-round picks, including the swashbuckling quarterback.

Texas A&M won 20 games in its first two seasons in the SEC with Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner. Now, the Aggies get a chance to prove they can win big in the powerhouse league even without Manziel. Sumlin said having players like the nation’s top-rated quarterback recruit, Kyle Allen, makes the task more exciting.

“I understand there’s not going to be another Johnny Manziel, the way he played the game,” Sumlin said. “Now does that mean that we change offensively? Maybe. Does that mean we changed offensively for him? That might be the case, too.”

Sumlin said he doesn’t adorn the walls at the football complex with motivational signs. Two that did make the cut, he said. “No excuses” and “It’s about us.”