ATLANTA – Confident and composed in his second appearance at SEC Media Days, Auburn coach Bryan Harsin outlined progress in the Tigers' program heading into year two under his leadership Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame.
"The thing that's changed the most and for the best from last year to this year is that we do have real leadership," Harsin said. "Guys who are holding other guys accountable, setting the example and bringing other guys with them."
Harsin brought three of Auburn's leaders with him to SEC Media Days: edge Derick Hall, tight end John Samuel Shenker and running back Tank Bigsby.
Before taking questions from reporters, Harsin addressed offseason turbulence and its unifying impact.
"What came out of that inquiry were a lot of positives," he said. "There was a silver lining in all of this. It united our football team, our players, our staff. I'm really proud of our guys. I'm proud of what something like that that could be very challenging and difficult for a lot of people, how our guys stepped up and handled it."
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Auburn's quarterback competition will be a key storyline when preseason camp kicks off on Aug. 5. Whoever wins the job will benefit from a seasoned offensive line and talented backfield.
"The O-line is stronger, they're bigger, they're moving better. Coach Friend has done a really good job," Harsin said. "We're advanced in our strength and our knowledge of our system. Now we've got to go show it. We've got some really good tailbacks behind them.
"If you're playing offensive line for us and you've got Jarquez Hunter and Tank Bigsby behind you, that should be motivation enough, because those guys can do some really good things if we can take care of business up front."
Harsin outlined his message to recruits and what prospective student-athletes will experience when they visit Jordan-Hare Stadium as the Tigers begin the season with five consecutive home games.
"I think the message is: watch," Harsin said. "I think the ones who have been on our campus, they see the energy and the vibe, what's happening, how the players are responding, coaches are connecting, everything that we're doing.
"There's a great energy in our program right now. There's alignment in our program right now. I know those recruits and families feel that when they step on campus.
"Auburn sells itself. It's a beautiful campus. It's a phenomenal stadium. The people there are fantastic. Everything about it is what you want to be a part of."
Auburn opens the season vs. Mercer Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium, followed by home games against San Jose State, Penn State, Missouri and LSU before the Tigers' first road game at Georgia on Oct. 8.
"Now we've got to put a product on the field that players want to be a part of," Harsin said. "Our identity, we're going to develop our players. We're all about development.
"Through character, through discipline, through toughness, through conviction and understanding what that truly means, through integrity, class, those things are what college is all about. Those are things that we're providing guys with an opportunity to learn and develop in our program.
"When you get on that campus, that spirit, that energy, that vibe, they know it. Now we've got to go prove it on the field."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
