There are two situations facing Auburn with the new head coach hire: they can get someone new, and that coach will have to recruit every player to stay on the Plains, or they hire DJ Durkin, and much of the defense will remain intact.
If the latter is the case, next year's defense could be extremely special. If it is the former, the new guy will have to show the guy who has played under Durkin during the last two seasons why they should stay.
With Keldric Faulk all but gone after this season for a career in the NFL, here are the five players that will be critical for Durkin or the new head coach to keep for 2026.