Duke Blue Devils Name Texas A&M Aggies LB Coach Tyler Santucci New Defensive Coordinator

The Texas A&M Aggies misplaced 25 gamers to the switch portal throughout the first wave of the offseason. Now, the Aggies should exchange a longtime defensive assistant. 

In keeping with a number of reviews, Duke is focusing on Texas A&M linebacker coach Tyler Santucci as its subsequent defensive coordinator. Blue Devils defensive coordinator Robb Smith reportedly left this system earlier this week because of “private causes.”

Santucci was anticipated to be within the working for the Blue Devils place because of his lengthy historical past with second-year coach Mike Elko. Santucci, 34, beforehand labored with Elko at Wake Forest and Notre Dame previous to his arrival at Texas A&M. He was a graduate assistant for the Demon Deacons in 2014-15 when Elko was Wake’s defensive coordinator.

When then-coach Brian Kelly employed Elko to take over the Combating Irish protection, Santucci joined him as a defensive analyst in South Bend. After Elko left for Texas A&M, Santucci returned to Wake Forest to educate linebacker till he was reunited with Elko in 2020. 

Elko, who grew to become a staple in Faculty Station because the Aggies’ defensive coordinator, labored with Santucci from 2020-21 and was influential in serving to him develop linebacker skills resembling Buddy Johnson, Anthony Hines, Andrew White Jr. and Edgerrin Cooper. 

Elko, who helped the Aggies end with back-to-back high 20 defenses in 2020 and 2021, was employed final offseason to switch David Cutcliffe in Durham. In a single yr, Elko vastly remodeled this system’s tradition and manufacturing, main the Blue Devils from a 3-9 to a 9-4 file. 

For his efforts, Elko was named ACC Coach of the 12 months. Duke’s protection below Elko allowed 22.1 factors per sport final season, which was No. 31 nationally and fifth-best within the ACC in 12 months 1. The yr prior, the Blue Devils allowed an ACC-worst 39.8 factors per sport (No. 127 nationally) and an FBS-worst 517.6 yards per sport (No. 130 nationally).

Following Elko’s departure, Santucci was named co-defensive coordinator, together with new coordinator D.J. Durkin. Final season, the Aggies led the nation in go protection, permitting 156.2 yards per sport. Texas A&M additionally allowed 21.2 factors per sport, the third-fewest amongst all SEC applications. 

The Aggies’ teaching workers will look vastly completely different in 2023. Texas A&M fired Darrell Dickey after 5 seasons and lately employed former Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino for a similar title. Durkin will stay with the crew for a second season, although it’s unclear if coach Jimbo Fisher will likely be trying to exchange Santucci with a second co-coordinator. 

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