Texas A&M assistant being targeted by ACC team for DC role, per report

Texas A&M assistant Tyler Santucci is reportedly being pegged for a new role in the ACC.

Santucci, who is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Aggies, is reportedly being targeted by Duke head coach Mike Elko. This comes after Duke DC Robb Smith reportedly left the team due to “personal reasons.”

Santucci is Texas A&M’s linebacker coach and co-defensive coordinator. He’s worked as a graduate assistant (Wake Forest) and analyst (Notre Dane and Texas A&M) under Elko.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 21, 2023

Santucci and Elko have a history of working together at multiple stops. Santucci was a defensive analyst under Elko at Notre Dame for the 2017 season and followed Elko to College Station for the 2018 season before heading to Wake Forest for the 2019 season.

Santucci returned to the Aggies in 2020 as the linebackers coach. After Elko’s departure for Duke, Santucci was given the co-defensive coordinator title at A&M.

The Blue Devils’ defense was improved in 2022, finishing 31st in the nation in points allowed after a disastrous performance in 2021.