Auburn Football: Best Quotes and Key Takeaways from SEC Media Days

SEC media days opened this week with Auburn as the first team on the schedule. Later in the week, the event ended with Auburn as the first team on the media's ballots for the conference title.

Although the Tigers weren't predicted to win their own division—have fun figuring that one out—it's clear they received plenty of attention this week in Hoover, Alabama.

Even with a smaller-than-usual amount of experience on offense and a lack of recent success on defense, Auburn will enter the fall as a strong SEC and College Football Playoff contender.

Several faces of the 2015 team were on display at SEC media days. Head coach Gus Malzahn, quarterback Jeremy Johnson, linebacker Kris Frost and cornerback Jonathan Jones represented Auburn on Monday morning and received dozens of questions from the media masses.

Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports

In case you missed it, catch up on what a surprisingly cagey Malzahn had to say with this Monday piece and Johnson's big day under the bright lights in this Tuesday story. 

Here are a few of the remaining top quotes and main takeaways from Auburn's time at media days.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

"The Muschamp Effect"

New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was, of course, one of Auburn's biggest storylines at media days. Malzahn made his thoughts clear on how important his new assistant was to the team's future.

"In my opinion, the best defensive mind in all of football, not just college football," Malzahn said. "Our defensive players have taken on his personality, which I really like."

Even though Muschamp's 2015 defense hasn't played a single snap yet, the energy is a lot different in the program when it comes to that side of the ball.

"We are all excited," Frost told AL.com's Brandon Marcello. "We feel like we have a new breath of life in us. Everything is so positive. I have never seen it so positive before, with everything circling around the team. For the team as a whole, we are extremely excited and pumped up about starting the season off."

And when the defense finally hits the field, Jones says Auburn fans should expect to see a big difference from last season's struggling unit thanks to Muschamp.

"People are going to see the changes right off the bat," Jones told the Kansas City Star's Tod Palmer. "You can look and see what he did at Florida as far as their defenses. They were always at the top. People want to play for great coaches, and he’s a great coach."

Courtesy: 247Sports

Kerryon Johnson could play early

True freshman running back Kerryon Johnson, the third straight Mr. Football signee for Auburn, will enter a strong backfield this fall.

Johnson will be behind JUCO star Jovon Robinson and sensational sophomore Roc Thomas, along with bruising redshirt sophomore Peyton Barber. But don't count him out as someone who will sit in 2015.

"I really feel like he will factor," Malzahn told Auburn Undercover's Phillip Marshall. "He’s a guy we expect to play. He has a unique skill set and can do a lot of different things. He can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands."

Johnson might not be a traditional running back in Auburn's offense to start his career. The 4-star athlete has the potential to get touches at slot receiver, Wildcat quarterback or return man this fall.

"He brings a lot to the table," Malzahn said. "He can do that. He can catch the ball very well. You can even split him out. He’s very versatile."

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Jones is ready to go

Speaking of Jones, Auburn's top defensive back told reporters he's 100 percent heading into fall camp after foot surgery a few weeks ago.

"I feel the same," Jones told Marcello. "It wasn't a major surgery. It was something minor and I wanted to get it out of the way.

"You kinda want to test it out, see where you're at because you don't want to wait until right before the game to really see where you're at and it not be where you need it to be."

The junior has battled injuries during his time on the Plains but has still become one of the most consistent performers in the conference.

He was named to the media's All-SEC first team Friday after leading the conference in passes defensed last season. Jones also had six interceptions in 2014—the most of any returning defensive back in the league.

"It's real big"

One of the biggest—literally—stories in Auburn this summer has been the construction of the new 190-by-57-foot scoreboard inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Malzahn was asked about the scoreboard, which will be the largest in college football, late during his media days appearance on Monday.

"It's big. It's real big," Malzahn said. "When you get on the field and you actually see how big it is, it's really something else. I think it's going to be a great thing for our fans. The atmosphere, it will do nothing but help our atmosphere, which is already off the charts. I know our players are going to enjoy it."

He said the team will turn it on for practices during fall camp, so the players can get used to the massive sight by the time Auburn hosts Jacksonville State for its home opener.

"It will take me a little getting used to, but I'm really looking forward to having it," Malzahn said. "And we are going to practice some in fall camp with that thing on so it won't be a shock to us that first game at home."

All quotes are taken from SEC Network broadcast unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is an on-call college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.