Sources: Auburn expected to promote TJ Rushing to on-field coach
AUBURN — Auburn is expected to move off-the-field coach TJ Rushing on the field to coach outside linebackers and potentially help with the hybrid star and nickel positions, sources tell Auburn Live.
Rushing will replace Josh Aldridge on the field, who left to become the defensive coordinator at East Carolina after coaching the Edge position this past season at Auburn.
Other names considered in some capacity to join the staff, sources tell Auburn Live, were Clint Sintum (LB coach, Virginia), Jeremy Garrett (D-line coach, Jacksonville Jaguars), and Freddie Roach (D-line coach, Alabama).
Current D-tackle coach Vontrell King-Williams is expected to take over more duties, coaching the defensive tackles, the ends and possibly the Edges.
Freeze’s promotion of Rushing makes sense. He is known inside the Auburn football building as a strong recruiter, builder of personal relationships, and an assistant coach very familiar with the defensive system under DJ Durkin.
Rushing coached defensive backs at Arizona State, Memphis and Texas A&M between the years 2016-2023. Rushing joined the Auburn staff as a special assistant to the head coach in June of 2024.
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The key connection is this: Rushing previously coached defensive backs under now Auburn defensive coordinator Durkin, while Durkin was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023.
With the Aggies, Rushing helped lead a defense that ranked top 10 in the nation in total defense after his first season in 2020, ranked No. 17 in the country in pass defense in 2021, and ranked No. 1 in the nation against the pass in 2022.
When Rushing was hired at Texas A&M, then head coach Jimbo Fisher said, “TJ has an outstanding track record of playing, teaching, and developing quality defensive backs. He is a tireless worker, an outstanding recruiter and he coaches with a lot of fire and enthusiasm. He will make a great addition to our coaching staff.”
Rushing finished his Stanford playing career as one of the top three kick returners in school history with 1409 yards. He was named First-Team All-Pac-10 for his work on special teams during his junior year. Rushing had three career touchdowns on kickoff returns, including both the first and last return of his senior season.
Rushing played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Detroit Lions in the NFL.
