For the past few weeks, DJ Durkin has had a lot on his plate. He has taken over head coaching responsibilities from the fired Hugh Freeze, must still coordinate the defense, and also has to focus on roster management and recruiting as the season comes to a close.
Though it is certainly no easy task, the Auburn football players have fully endorsed Durkin and have rallied around him after Freeze's firing. With two games left in this season, distractions are plentiful as Athletic Director John Cohen conducts his search for the Auburn Tigers' next head coach.
There is no doubt that Durkin is a candidate in the mix for the head coaching position, especially considering how strong the defense has been this season. He was asked by the media earlier this week if he had officially interviewed for the permanent position yet.
"I view every day here on the job as an interview," Durkin said, per Auburn Undercover. "I think you're getting a good glimpse of what I would be as a head coach here, so I just treat it that way. Certainly, there's conversations almost daily with our administration about a lot of things in the program. So that's how it is. Our focus is solely on this team right now and preparing for a game this week, and that's it. Those things I think will play out and handle themselves."
Reports indicate that Cohen has already spoken with a number of candidates, including Tulane's John Sumrall, Vanderbilt's Clark Lea, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz and South Florida's Alex Golesh. Cohen also reportedly interviewed former Penn State head coach James Franklin, who took the head coaching job at Virginia Tech earlier this week.