Derek Mason out as defensive coordinator at Auburn

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1. Auburn Football

• Updated: Jan. 21, 2022, 2:58 p.m.|
• Published: Jan. 21, 2022, 10:07 a.m.

AL.com can confirm that Derek Mason is leaving Bryan Harsin's staff after one season as defensive coordinator and will be replaced by Jeff Schmedding. Mason is expected to speak with the team Friday afternoon to address the rumors.

Mason's departure marks the fourth assistant coach to leave Harsin's staff after one season.

Mike Bobo got fired shortly after Auburn's loss in the Iron Bowl. Seahawks assistant coach Austin Davis replaced Bobo. Nick Eason left for Clemson. AL.com can also confirm that Auburn alum Jimmy Brumbaugh will replace Eason as defensive line coach. Auburn parted ways with first-year wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams four games into the season.

Read more Auburn Football: Auburn expects to hire Jimmy Brumbaugh as DL coach - al.com

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Clemson hires Auburn assistant coach Nick Eason - al.com

Schmedding was a linebackers coach/assistant head coach last season. He previously was Harsin's defensive coordinator at Boise State.

Schmedding coached at Eastern Washington for 15 seasons before going to Boise. He served as defensive coordinator from 2015-18, and the 2018 squad led the FCS in defensive touchdowns scored and second in forced turnovers.

Schmedding's upgrade leaves room for a linebacker's coach. AL.com can confirm that former Florida linebackers coach and ex-Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson is taking that position.

Robinson coached at Florida 2018-21 and spent the last four games as interim defensive coordinator after the Gators fired Todd Grantham. Working for Florida was Robinson's first full-time coaching job. He started as a grad assistant at the University of Georgia (2013-14), Ole Miss (2015-16), and Mississippi State (2017) before joining Grantham at Florida.

The Norcross Ga native started at Georgia in 2013 as a defensive graduate assistant and quality control assistant after playing 51 games with 17 starts as a linebacker from 2009-12, compiling 159 tackles, 22.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nwilborn19.

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