D.J. Durkin, right, was the defensive coordinator at Florida under Will Muschamp. (AP)

Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has emerged as a strong candidate for the vacant Maryland head-coaching job, multiple sources have told Yahoo Sports.

Durkin, 37, met recently with Maryland officials, sources said. No job offer was made, but the interview went well, sources said.

Michigan’s defense has been vastly improved this season under Durkin, his first year in Ann Arbor as part of Jim Harbaugh's staff. The Wolverines are allowing just 14.9 points per game (down from 22.4 last year) and 263 yards per game (down from 311 last year). Michigan plays Ohio State in the annual rivalry showdown game Saturday to end the regular season.

Durkin previously was the defensive coordinator at Florida under Will Muschamp and worked with Harbaugh at Stanford from 2007-09. Durkin is known as a highly effective recruiter and was the 2012 Rivals.com recruiter of the year.

Maryland fired Randy Edsall in early October to get a jump on the coaching search process. It is unclear how many other candidates the school has interviewed or will interview.

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