Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko is set to leave South Bend for Texas A&M to become the Aggies new defensive coordinator.
Elko oversaw a major turnaround for the Notre Dame defense this season, turning a group that ranked 63rd in defensive efficiency (FEI) in 2016 to No. 21 in 2017.
Texas A&M offered a bunch of money to LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, but Aranda chose to stay at LSU for $2.5 million a year. It appears Notre Dame was unable to match whatever Texas A&M is offering Elko.
Elko will take over a Texas A&M defense that gave up 30.7 points per game, 406.8 yards per game and gave up 5.5 yards per play this past season, which resulted in the firing of head coach Kevin Sumlin.
Texas A&M's new head coach is Jimbo Fisher, who coached against Elko when the former Irish DC was at Wake Forest. The Deacons held Florida State to just 17 points in their 2016 matchup.
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