The Washington Huskies are in the market for another defensive coordinator with Steve Belichick set to leave Seattle to take the same position at North Carolina after one season. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Jedd Fisch has identified his top candidate in Ryan Walters.
The former Purdue head coach struggled in his tenure at the helm, going 5-19 over two seasons, but would be a strong hire for Fisch to lead the defense following Belichick’s departure.
Before his time with the Boilermakers, Walters was considered one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators. In 2022, his defense at Illinois led the nation in points allowed, giving up just 12.8 per game. The Fighting Illini also finished No. 3 in total defense that season thanks to the country’s No. 8 secondary and No. 10 unit against the run.
He also proved to be an impressive developer during his time with the Illini, turning cornerback Devon Witherspoon into the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and defensive tackle Johnny Newton into the No. 36 pick in the 2024 draft. Under his watch, defensive backs Quan Martin and Sydney Brown were also selected in the second and third rounds respectively in 2023.
Walters would also bring an intriguing boost to the recruiting trail. He was able to earn commitments from three four-star defensive backs in the 2024 class, which ranked No. 29 in the country according to 247Sports.
As the Huskies potentially look to add one more player to their defensive line, if Walters were the hire, he might be able to entice an intriguing name to come with him. Defensive tackle Jeffrey M’Ba, the No. 1 overall recruit in junior college in the 2022 class, who entered the transfer portal on December 24, would not only be a scheme fit, but is the experienced Big Ten body at 6-foot-6 and 302 pounds Fisch’s coaching staff desires on the interior.