Auburn’s defense will look a lot different next season.

Along with large-scale personnel changes, the group will have new leadership in 2024 with new co-defensive coordinators DJ Durkin and Charles Kelly leading the defense.

“I love what DJ Durkin and Charles Kelly are bringing into the defensive side in experience and organization and energy and structure that they have over there,” Hugh Freeze said of the pair at SEC Media Days on Thursday.

Veteran linebacker Eugene Asante had similar praise for the two coaches, mentioning how the unique combination is a “great thing” for the team.

Asante has worked closely with Durkin, who coaches the linebackers, and already feels comfortable with his new coach.

“Coach Durkin was at Texas A&M last year and had a great defense and brings a great defensive scheme,” Asante said. “Certainly somebody that knows exactly what he’s doing when he calls in a defense.”

The biggest contrast between Durkin and Kelly is their demeanors.

“Coach Durkin, everyday, every meeting, his energy, he gets guys fired up in the meeting room to go out there and we want to run a walk through a wall for him,” said Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk.

“Coach Kelly, man he’s one of the most calm guys I’ve ever seen. He’s technical,” Faulk continued.

The two coaches replace former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who left for a similar role at Florida.

Kelly, a former Auburn player, came to Auburn following a season as the defensive coordinator at Colorado after spending the four previous years as the associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Alabama.

He’ll coach the safeties at Auburn along with being a co-defensive coordinator.

Durkin spent the last four years in the SEC with stops at Ole Miss and Texas A&M as a defensive coordinator.

Auburn’s defense ranked among the middle of the pack in the SEC last season, finishing the year eighth in yards allowed per game and seventh in points allowed per game.

Durkin’s defense at Texas A&M was one of the best in the SEC in 2023, finishing third in yards allowed per game, fifth in points allowed per game and first in rushing yards allowed per game.