Though it may not seem like it on the surface, Maryland firing Mike Locksley could have more of an impact on Auburn than many might suspect.
There might be more tie-ins between these two programs besides their recent Music City Bowl clash in Nashville to conclude the 2023 season.
Though the Terrapins are in a different recruiting blueprint, Alex Golesh has started to make inroads into that region for AU.
4-star DeMatha Catholic EDGE James Pace III, 4-star Henry E. Lackey defensive lineman Tyzon Swann, and St. Frances Academy safety James Branch are all committed to the Tigers' 2027 class from the state of Maryland.
A big reason for that is former Terrapins head coach DJ Durkin. The Tigers' defensive coordinator coached at Maryland from 2016 to 2018.
Durkin has roots in College Park and across the region. He's brought that to Auburn.
Could DJ Durkin return to Maryland?
Can Durkin parlay his experience as Tigers defensive coordinator into another head coaching shot with the Terrapins? That was Durkin's only full-time head coaching job in his career. Durkin probably makes too much money right now for a defensive coordinator.
Given his prior connections, which he clearly still has with the Pace, Swann, and Branch commits, a Maryland return could work.
Frankly, it'd be expected for some, most, or all of those players to decommit from Auburn and follow Durkin if he took the Terrapins job.
The state's high school recruits haven't had a good reason to stay in-state of late, but Durkin could point to the Tigers' 2024 and 2025 defensive performances and make a pretty convincing case that sticking around the Old Line State is the move.
Locksley had a more successful tenure than Durkin and interim head coach Matt Canada, who had a tough one-year tenure leading the program between the two. Maybe Durkin will be better prepared this time.
Of course, there are major controversies from Durkin's first tenure that could prevent a return as well.
Mike Locksley has Alabama connections
Meanwhile, Locksley now has well-established roots in Maryland in recruiting the other side of the ball.
Locksley was also on Nick Saban's Alabama coaching staff for three years and had a stint in Florida in the early aughts.
Maybe Locksley isn't the worst person for Golesh to consider for his staff next year.
Kodi Burns has done a masterful job with the receivers, particularly the USF transfers, during his third coaching stint at Auburn. Larry Porter has done a good job with the running backs during his second stint at AU.
If either finds a different job during the upcoming coaching cycle, Locksley would be an intriguing hire considering his previous recruiting blueprints.
Golesh has gotten good coordinator candidates to take position coach jobs, so it's not totally out of the question for a Locksley type to join the cause at some point.
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