Gig Em Gazette's Graham Harmon doesn't see DJ Durkin taking the Auburn football co-defensive coordinator job leading to Freshman All-American Taurean York joining the Tigers via the transfer portal this offseason.
"Given the renaissance the position group experienced under Durkin, though, is it reasonable to think that York may be a flight risk in the spring portal window? As of right now, I’m not particularly concerned," Harmon prefaced before saying, "21 strikes me as a guy who, absent some particular off-field hardship, is going to finish what he started in College Station. His attitude, from what fans have seen, is a refreshing one in that respect: a commitment to the institution and the team rather than an individual coach.
"As we approach the 2024 season, York figures to play a huge part in the Aggie defense. He will be a cornerstone of the unit for years to come, and the love for him in Aggieland will only grow."
Charles Kelly to be the Auburn football co-defensive coordinator focusing on recruiting
Hugh Freeze found two distinctly different personalities to co-man the defensive coordinator position on the Plains.
Durkin is your classic drill sergeant-type operator who's been known to produce smashmouth defenses like his Aggies defense in 2023. Charles Kelly, hired hours before the Music City Bowl, is a recruiting ace who will be doing his best to strengthen his alma mater after a high-profile run under Coach Prime at Colorado.
Together, they figure to form a formidable team. And although that means Aggie talents like York aren't likely to come along for the ride, the recruits that do come will be coached hard.
Freeze's main chess moves have been made, and the results of his choices won't be made evident til the fall. But in the meantime, there are many reasons to be confident in what's being built in East Central Alabama.