BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Embarking on his seventh season as Auburn's head coach, Gus Malzahn pointed to the trio of supersized linemen he brought with him to SEC Media Days when discussing the 2019 Tigers.
Defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson and offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho are among eight Auburn players who remained on the Plains after considering leaving early for the NFL.
"The fact that we have so many older guys who chose to come back, I think it really makes a difference," Malzahn said. "How hungry they are, how motivated they are. It's felt that way the whole offseason.
"The fact that we ended the season with a good bowl victory, we played our best game, the guys are excited to come back. I think that momentum has really carried over. They're a real hungry team and I feel like they have something to prove."
Returning all five offensive line starters and comparable experience on the defensive line, Malzahn said the quarterback competition between Joey Gatewood and Bo Nix will be Auburn's top preseason priority.
"We've got a good plan to evaluate our quarterbacks, put them in as many situations as possible," he said. "Usually what happens is, the whole team usually knows it. Whenever that time happens, we're going to name a starting quarterback. I hope that is earlier rather than later, but I'm not going to try to push it. I'm just going to let it happen."
Gatewood, a redshirt freshman, and Nix, a true freshman early enrollee, both offer dual-threat ability.
"Both of them can be a run threat, which I think is important," he said. "They both can create when things break down, they showed in the spring, and they both have big-time arms. The good thing is I think we've got two good options.
"It's going to be a fierce battle. Both of them are great competitors, both of them have handled themselves really good from a leadership standpoint, understanding that one of their biggest jobs is to earn the trust of their teammates.
"Joey, there's no doubt, he's an imposing runner. But I will say this about Bo, he can flat-out run, too. Both of those guys are going to be run threats. When we've had a run threat at quarterback, that's really a game-changer as far as defenses having to prepare."
Whoever wins Auburn's starting QB job will benefit from that seasoned offensive line, skill position depth and a defense that ranked No. 14 nationally in scoring last season.
"Really hoping that we can be really good around our quarterbacks to help them grow," he said. "I think we've got a chance to be the best defense we've had since I've been here. We've got a lot of experience, we've got a lot of really talented guys on defense, specifically up front. The strength of our team is up front. That's a good thing in this league."
Having an experienced team, with eight players delaying their professional careers, bolsters Malzahn's confidence.
"It's a comfort for me. Those eight guys, and the reasons they came back, this team starts with the leadership of that group. My experience is when you have leaders that are hungry like that, the other team falls in line. That is a real refreshing thing for me. It gives coaches confidence. It gives other players confidence."
Auburn kicks off the season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Aug. 31 against Oregon.
"They've got everybody coming back for the most part, one of the top teams in the country I think," Malzahn said. "A lot of people are picking them to win their league, some are picking them in the final four, so we're going to play one of the best teams in the country on a neutral site. It'll be a really good test of where this team is at right off the bat."
The schedule is daunting. The competition, as always, will be intense. Malzahn remains confident that Auburn can contend for the SEC championship.
"We have a chance," Malzahn said. "I don't think every team in our league can say that. You have to win close games, you've got to stay healthy. There are a lot of variables, but when you're sitting here before the season, you at least can say you've got a chance. We expect to win championships. We're going to have more championships in the future, too.
"It's almost here. The positivity around our complex and the excitement of whatever this season holds, you feel it."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer