Texas A&M football team has a leading candidate at defensive coordinator

One of the leading storylines this offseason for the Texas A&M football team would be in regards to the defensive coordinator position, which was left open after Mike Elko’s departure for the Duke football head coaching job.

That said, Jimbo Fisher was likely already mentally prepared for this, as Elko has been one of the best DCs in the game for years. There was nowhere else to go up in Aggieland with Fisher as head coach.

Now, the defensive coordinator spot sits open — and for a while, there were no clear candidates. Suddenly, one individual looks like a frontrunner to land the position based on a report.

According to FootballScoop, the Texas A&M football team will look to hire Ole Miss’s DJ Durkin

FootballScoop’s John Brice published an article on Monday detailing inside information that connects Ole Miss defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to the open Texas A&M football defensive coordinator position. According to Brice, this isn’t the only part of the move. Here’s more.

"Additionally, sources share with FootballScoop that Fisher would like to promote Tyler Santucci from linebackers coach to co-defensive coordinator in connection with Durkin’s hire. Santucci had been of interest with multiple Power 5 programs over the past weeks."

While the linebackers coach in Tyler Santucci should come as a surprise as one who is receiving Power Five attention, he has done an elite job thus far. Guys like Buddy Johnson and Aaron Hansford have excelled under him in his two years as linebackers coach.

The surprise here is that the coach who is expected to step into a co-defensive coordinator role isn’t Elijah Robinson, the Aggies’ defensive line coach. Robinson’s defensive line was arguably the best in the country in 2021 and should see DeMarvin Leal drafted in the first round.

Aside from this, however, it would be interesting to see the Aggies pursue Durkin, who has already had an opportunity as a Power Five head coach. If he joins the Aggies’ coaching staff, he may be an easier piece to retain than Mike Elko was.

Durkin also has a proven track record as a defensive coordinator, running a successful defense at the University of Michigan in 2015 before leaving for the Maryland HC job. This would be a great hire for Fisher.