NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama football's Roman Buchanan and Gerald Everett met with the media Monday as part of the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

A few highlights from Monday's Media Day are below.

Defensive Back Roman Buchanan
On what excites him about this year's schedule:
"It's just another year to me. It's always nice to play Southeastern Conference opponents – I guess that excites me – but overall I am just excited for another year."

On playing for new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack:
"I think he brings a lot more negative plays than we have had in the past. We are more disruptive, not just a defense that concentrates on getting off the field. We like to create turnovers and things of that nature."

On the strengths of the defense:
"There is no doubt about it that it is our speed. It is going to be tough to get on the perimeter on us. If we get you in third down, we feel like you are in trouble because we have so much speed and athleticism on the field. We are extremely fast."

On moving from safety to linebacker:
"I am excited about being more of a blitzer and causing more negative plays behind the line of scrimmage. I feel like my experience and everything I have gained will help me; you're not going to fool or trick me."

On the keys to success this season:
"We definitely have to focus. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. It's easy to focus the first few weeks of the season; everyone is pumped up then and optimistic. But as the season wears on, that's when you really start to figure out who teams are."

Tight End Gerald Everett
On expectations for this season:
"Last year we had issues of coming out slow and sluggish, so this year we have put emphasis on coming out and immediately firing on all cylinders and everyone going 100 miles per hour and knowing their assignments – just everyone giving all they have."

On the strengths of this year's team:
"We have a lot of speed, and the ability to take the top off of defenses early in the game."

On what excites him about this year's schedule:
"Of course we open the season with Mississippi State, and I am excited to play everyone in the Sun Belt (Conference) but playing those SEC guys – bigger, faster and better competition – I am licking my chops. I am ready for it."

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