Aggies DC D.J. Durkin 'More Comfortable' In Year 2

The Texas A&M Aggies have experience in their starting 11 with young depth waiting in the balance.

The Texas A&M Aggies had a top-15 defense in 2021 under former defensive coordinator Mike Elko, who took over head coaching duties at Duke last season.

In stepped D.J. Durkin and the unit regressed, allowing nearly 28 more yards and just over five more points per game. Durkin said ahead of year two, he's settled into the position and is "much further along" than where he was last season.

"In a first year, everything's a first: first training camp, just knowing how things go, how the schedule runs, knowing your guys," Durkin said. "One of the biggest things I think you have to do as a coach is really know your personnel really well, and build what you do and how you do it based on their strengths. Sometimes it's hard to see all of that right away. You kind of learn as you go. So, I feel much more comfortable about knowing our personnel now this year."

The Aggies welcomed five-star freshmen defensive linemen Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, LT Overton and Anthony Lucas last season. Though Lucas transferred to USC in the offseason, the Aggies are looking for contributions from the young core on the line in 2023.

Durkin said the uncertainty of how freshmen will play at the college level is always a challenge.

"You think you know when you're recruiting someone, you think you know what you're getting, but you don't always know," Durkin said. "You got to get out there on the field. You got to see how they go."

Despite the rising sophomores providing depth, the Aggies defense will have plenty of veteran starters and leadership. Safety Demani Richardson, linebacker Chris Russell Jr. and defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson returned for their senior season, headlining the nine of 11 projected starters with at least three years of experience.

While Durkin's more at ease in College Station, he said the players are "probably" more comfortable in his system.

Durkin said the questions he had in his first year with the Aggies have likely been answered, allowing for more of a focused approach ahead of 2023.

"There was probably a lot more question marks this time last year of just who are going to be the guys? Who's in the mix? How much are guys playing?" Durkin said. "There's more of those things probably answered. Although, I think we have great competition at our spots, and we'll keep going through that."

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Follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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