Hammer and Rails actually had a good write-up on Ryan Walters prior to his selection as HC. He is considered one of the best coordinators in the country. I am a little surprised that Jamarcus Shephard wasn't given a shot (please let him be the OC!!!). Overall, I'm OK with Walters selection.
From Hammer & Rails -
Ryan Walters is considered one of the best up and coming assistant coaches in college football. Only 36, Walters played at Colorado, graduating in, 2008 and jumped immediately into coaching as a student assistant at Colorado and Arizona as a graduate assistant. He became the defensive coordinator at Missouri in 2018 at just 32 years of age.
Walters was hired at Illinois by Brett Bielema and made an immediate impact. This season the Illini were one of the best statistical defenses in the country. They are 2nd in total defense (263.8 yards per game), forced 30 turnovers (1st in the country), 74.1% red zone scoring defense (11thin the country), allowed only 98.4 yards rushing per game (8th in the country), and only 165.4 passing yards per game (6th in the country).
Walters was considered a finalists for the opening at Colorado before they hired Deion Sanders and was also considered a possibility for their defensive coordinator position. Rittenberg made mention of Walters numerous times during the search at Colorado and Walters is considered one of the best defensive minds in the country. There is a big youth movement at the NFL and college level but this may end up being something along the lines of what happened with Jeff Brohm and Louisville if Sanders flops at Colorado.
From Hammer & Rails -
Ryan Walters is considered one of the best up and coming assistant coaches in college football. Only 36, Walters played at Colorado, graduating in, 2008 and jumped immediately into coaching as a student assistant at Colorado and Arizona as a graduate assistant. He became the defensive coordinator at Missouri in 2018 at just 32 years of age.
Walters was hired at Illinois by Brett Bielema and made an immediate impact. This season the Illini were one of the best statistical defenses in the country. They are 2nd in total defense (263.8 yards per game), forced 30 turnovers (1st in the country), 74.1% red zone scoring defense (11thin the country), allowed only 98.4 yards rushing per game (8th in the country), and only 165.4 passing yards per game (6th in the country).
Walters was considered a finalists for the opening at Colorado before they hired Deion Sanders and was also considered a possibility for their defensive coordinator position. Rittenberg made mention of Walters numerous times during the search at Colorado and Walters is considered one of the best defensive minds in the country. There is a big youth movement at the NFL and college level but this may end up being something along the lines of what happened with Jeff Brohm and Louisville if Sanders flops at Colorado.