Report: Auburn to hire DJ Durkin as defensive coordinator

Durkin will team up with Charles Kelly to lead the Auburn defense in 2024.

In a bit of late-night news, Auburn has reportedly found its next defensive coordinator.

Auburn Undercover reports that Auburn will hire [autotag]DJ Durkin[/autotag] as its next defensive coordinator. He is expected to team up with [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag] to lead the Tigers’ defense in 2024.

Durkin joins Auburn’s staff after spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. He also has SEC experience at Ole Miss (2020-22) and Florida (2010-14).

Since returning to the SEC, Durkin has led defenses to top-10 rankings within the conference. Last season, Texas A&M’s defense finished No. 3 in the SEC by allowing 316 yards per game and was No. 2 behind Florida in average plays allowed with 60.5. The Aggies finished No. 7 in the SEC in 2022 by allowing 365 yards per game.

Durkin’s hire would close out Auburn’s assistant coaching vacancies. This offseason, Auburn has tabbed former Ole Miss wide receivers coach [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] as offensive coordinator, former Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly as co-defensive coordinator, and has promoted former assistant [autotag]Kent Austin[/autotag] to quarterbacks coach.

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