Texas A&M co-defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci expected to be hired as Duke defensive coordinator

Duke is expected to hire Texas A&M co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tyler Santucci as defensive coordinator, sources tell On3.

Santucci, whom ESPN previously reported as a target for the Duke job, worked with Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko at Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Santucci, who’s widely regarded as one of the nation’s top up-and-coming defensive coaches, had been at Texas A&M since 2020. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator last year.

A former Stony Brook All-American linebacker, Santucci was selected to the Big South conference’s All-Decade team for the 2000s.

At Duke, Santucci will replace Robb Smith, who stepped down after one season as the Blue Devils’ defensive coordinator to be closer to his family in Minnesota, according to a statement from Duke.

The Blue Devils are coming off a 9-4 record in their first season with Elko as their head coach.