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Vontrell King-Williams retained on Auburn's defensive staff

by: Caleb Jones12/02/25CalebJ_Rivals

Auburn is retaining more than just defensive coordinator DJ Durkin for next season’s staff. Defensive tackles coach Vontrell King-Williams is also returning, multiple sources confirm to AuburnSports.com

King-Williams had served as Auburn’s defensive tackles coach since 2024, after being elevated to the position from defensive line analyst. His retention on staff is expected to provide a positive boost in roster retention, along with Signing Day significance for several Auburn commits and targets.

Since stepping into the role, King-Williams is proving to be one of the top young assistants in college football. Auburn’s run defense ranked 27th in the nation in 2024. True freshman Malik Blocton earned freshman All America honors under King-Williams, while three veterans signed with NFL teams.

Meanwhile, King-Williams also contributed to bringing in one of the top defensive line classes in the country. Auburn signed Malik Autry, Jourdin Crawford, Darrion Smith and Antonio Coleman in its 2025 class — all of which were 4-star prospects.

The defensive line took a step forward in 2025, as it ranked 11th in rushing defense nationwide. The Tigers allowed an average of 99.3 yards per game, which ranked fourth-best in the SEC.

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