is hiring former Texas A&M assistant coach DJ Durkin to replace the defensive coordinator position, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Monday night. Durkin was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2022 to 2023 under Jimbo Fisher, but he did not return when new Texas A&M coach Mike Elko hired Jay Bateman to lead the defence.
Auburn 
Hugh Freeze, Auburn’s head coach, has chosen new coordinators on both sides of the ball as the team prepares for its second season. Durkin will succeed former DC Ron Roberts, who resigned in January to join Florida’s staff as executive head coach, co-defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. Freeze also decided to leave offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery after one year. Derrick Nix, the former wide receivers coach at Ole Miss, took his place.
Durkin’s defence improved throughout his two years at Texas A&M. The Aggies ended eighth in the SEC in 2022, allowing 365 yards per game, but dropped that number to 316.2 in 2023, ranking 19th nationally and third in the league in total defence.
Durkin’s unit, however, failed to keep up with growing competition. The Aggies allowed at least 30 points in four of their six losses, all to power conference teams, and surrendered an average of 30.3 points per game against their past four FBS opponents.
Durkin has vast experience as an SEC assistant. From 2010 to 2014, he served in a variety of jobs at Florida, including defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, before returning to the league in 2020 as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Ole Miss.
He was also the head coach at Maryland from 2016 to 2017, when he went 10-15 overall and 5-13 in Big Ten play. Durkin’s term ended in controversy as a result of an investigation into charges of a toxic culture following the murder of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. Durkin returned to the squad after an 80-day administrative vacation, but was sacked in October 2018 owing to a criticism over his reinstatement.
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