What Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn said at SEC Media Days

Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn took the podium Thursday on the final day of SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

The Auburn football coach arrived in style Thursday and promptly played to the Auburn fans.

Malzahn had plenty to discuss. He agreed to a 7-year, $49 million contract extension at the end of last season, his team is expected to compete for another SEC West title and spot in the College Football Playoff as well. He told reporters that Auburn will open fall practice Aug. 3.

Follow along here for live updates from what Malzahn says.

– “I thought we were very close,” Malzahn said in reference to last year’s team in winning the SEC West and almost finding its way to the College Football Playoff.

– Notes that his players attending SEC Media Players have either graduated in Jarrett Stidham and Deshaun Davis or about to — Dontavius Russell graduates next month.

– Says very inexperienced but talented on the offensive line.

– “I feel like we have the toughest schedule in college football,” he says in reference to kicking off the season against Washington in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta in Week 1.

– “Overall I really like our team. I like our leaders.”

– “I really sense a hunger,” in this year’s team.

– Notes having most staff back, including both coordinators is big for his players.

– On backup QB competition: Malik Willis and Joey Gatewood got all the reps in spring practice while Stidham recovered from shoulder surgery.

– Calls Russell “underrated” and there’s a “high likelihood” that he plays in the NFL. He’s very unselfish and good against the run. Malzahn calls him “Mr. Consistency.”

– Notes first time playing Tennessee at home in his nine seasons at Auburn.

– “I think it’s a positive rule,” he says on redshirt rule. “I like the flexibility that goes with that.”

– On Stidham: Way he was playing in middle part of year was “phenomenal.” Says he’s tough mentally and physically and says offense is in very good hands as Stidham goes into his second year as starting QB.

– “We laid an egg that day” against UCF and “we weren’t happy the way the season ended.” He takes nothing away from UCF.

– “We need to find a way to take that next step and that’s easier said than done. … Being close to winning the SEC championship, being close to that final four, we have to find a way to take that next step.”

– Says offensive line coach J.B. Grimes is a great teacher and he didn’t have to think long when the position was opened to bring back Grimes to the team.

– On RB competition: Today, Kam Martin would be the No. 1 guy but says Auburn has 4 or 5 guys who could extend Auburn’s SEC record of nine consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher this season.

– I don’t get caught up in other coaches,” Malzahn says in reference to a question about being the only SEC coach to beat Nick Saban at Alabama. He added that the Iron Bowl is a big game and both teams and coaches know what they’re getting into.

– On Will Hastings: Hopes to get him back from ACL injury by midseason. Also noted Eli Stove’s injury, but didn’t offer timetable for his return.

– Says some similarities between the way Saban and Kirby Smart do things after spending so much time on the same staff at Alabama. Adds both teams have really good players, too.

– “Our home field advantage is real.”

– Says the front 7 is a group at least as talented or more talented as he’s seen at Auburn and he mentions the 2010 defensive line led by Nick Fairley.

– On Stidham’s active offseason: “He’s a mature young man. He’s got experience. We feel very good about his focus coming in. We know he’s chomping at the bit for August 3 to get here.”

– Says he has no opinion on UCF claiming national championship over Alabama. He said Scott Frost did an excellent job and they really got after Auburn.

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