DJ Durkin and Greg Mattison Will Help Michigan Defense Reach New Heights

Together, D.J. Durkin and Greg Mattison have the potential to drive Michigan’s defense into an era of dominance and superiority. 

Regarded as one of the best young coaches in the game, Durkin, 37, just left Florida to become Jim Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator in Ann Arbor. His hiring was a hit among fans and media. 

Due to the addition, Mattison, 65, slid over to the Wolverines defensive line, where he’ll continue to mastermind a rabid front four. His retention and re-designation also went over well. 

Moving into 2015, the scenario has become just about perfect for Harbaugh. Intensely energetic and driven, his defensive coaches are two of a kind. There aren’t many in college football who can recruit at national award-worthy levels like Mattison and Durkin, and there aren't very many who can top their passion for molding athletes.

Durkin and Mattison could spend a handful of years together and construct one of the best defenses to ever take the field at The Big House.

The backbone of Michigan football just got a lot stronger.

Meeting of the Minds

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The stats have been mentioned several times over, so we don’t need to waste of ton of time rehashing old news. That said, Mattison had the No. 7-ranked total defense in 2014, while Durkin’s Gators finished ranked at No. 15. They both had run-stuffing fronts, too. Michigan was No. 15 overall; Florida was No. 13.

As a defensive assistant, Durkin coached with Harbaugh at Stanford from 2007-09. He spent the following four years building an SEC power in Gainesville, having a hand in the development of linebackers and special teams.

His best years are ahead, and he’ll have another chance to develop alongside one of the most consistent assistants in the nation.

“We worked together at Notre Dame and kept in close touch ever since," Durkin recently said, via MLive’s Nick Baumgardner. "(I'm) thrilled (to be working with him). We've kept in close touch for a long time, and to get back together and work together is huge.

"For both of us."

Mattison’s move to the D-line is a familiar one. In 1992, he landed his first job with the Wolverines as a defensive line coach. Prior to that, he held the same title at Navy, Texas A&M, Western Michigan, Northwestern and Cornell.

In 2011, he returned to Michigan as its defensive coordinator; prior to that, he had a two-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens (DC/LB).

Maximize on the Trail

The Wolverines are breeding an elite D-line and continue to look for the best to fill their 2016 class. They’ve already extended an offer to Rashan Gary, a 5-star defensive lineman out of Paramus Catholic in New Jersey (the former stomping grounds of Jabrill Peppers).

At 6’4” and 285 pounds, Gary, who has “warm” interest in Michigan, possesses the ideal size for a Division I D-tackle. According to 247Sports, he’s the No. 2-ranked prospect of 2016, making him a special case. He’d be a historically good get for Durkin and Mattison, who also have their eyes on 3-star weak-side defensive end Connor Murphy and 5-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

Decommitments decimated Michigan’s 2015 class, which now has nine commits compared to just six before Harbaugh took over. Losing 4-star linebacker Darrin Kirkland and 4-star defensive backs Shaun Crawford and Garrett Taylor hurt, but Mattison and Durkin have scoured the trails for late additions.

They just happened to land one such prospect this past weekend, as former Nebraska pledge Reuben Jones—the No. 44-ranked strong-side defensive end of the next class, per 247Sports—switched his allegiance to the Wolverines.

The 6’3”, 223-pounder runs a respectable 4.89-second 40-yard dash and would fit well into Durkin’s 3-4 or 4-3 packages, either as an end or outside linebacker.

Mattison and Durkin have also courted Shelton Johnson. The 6’5”, 220-pounder is the No. 20-ranked strong-side defensive end of 2015 and reportedly has “warmer” interest in the Wolverines, per 247Sports. He visited Jan. 16 but seems destined for Florida State.

That said, Durkin has plenty of links to other talent in the Sunshine State, and he has pipelines spreading from southern hotbeds out to California.

Mattison is renowned for his ability to attract talent and ultimately develop it into rock-solid linebackers and D-linemen.

Their similarities in terms of recruiting, coaching and development should give the Wolverines one of the best DC/DL tandems in all of college football.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability.