Texas A&M football fans are puzzled by Auburn’s choice to invest in DJ Durkin. Under Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies made several notable coaching decisions in recent years. While none were as disastrous as hiring Steve Addazio, Durkin’s appointment was one of the most talked-about assistant coaching moves among Aggie fans.
After Mike Elko left for Duke, Fisher needed a high-profile replacement at defensive coordinator. He chose Durkin, a coach with an impressive defensive background, though some believed his best days were behind him.
Durkin’s approach differed significantly from Elko’s, sparking controversy among fans. His reliance on three-man fronts frustrated Aggie supporters, especially when the rush defense didn’t meet expectations in 2022.
However, Durkin wasn’t a bad defensive coordinator—he just wasn’t Mike Elko. In his first year at College Station, he led an elite pass defense, and in his second year, the rush defense excelled.
Last year, Durkin left for Auburn following Elko’s return as head coach. His performance there was decent but not particularly impressive. While the Aggies had a slow start against Auburn, they didn’t face significant challenges from his defense in their matchup with the Tigers.
That’s why Texas A&M fans were left scratching their heads when news broke today that Auburn’s leadership had decided to move forward with this choice.
I’ve long believed that Durkin faced more criticism than he deserved, but making him the second-highest-paid assistant in the country? That seems a bit excessive.
Texas A&M fans were understandably surprised by the news.
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