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Illinois Football: 5 options to replace Ryan Walters as Illini defensive coordinator

By Rees Woodcock

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 6: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Golden Gophers 14-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 6: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 6, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Golden Gophers 14-6. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 02: The Illinois Fighting Illini helmet on the field after a win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on November 02, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Terrance Jamison – Current Illinois DL Coach

Just as impressive as Aaron Henry’s ability to coach the Illinois secondary, I think Terrance Jamison’s work on the Illini defense line has been incredible. He would be a solid internal hire for the Illini.

Jamison has a long coaching career for his age. He started at Wisconsin in 2008 under Bret Bielema. He would spend two seasons as a student assistant for the defensive line. Jamison would jump to the high school ranks for a season before coming back to Wisconsin for the 2011 and 2012 seasons in some capacity on the defensive side of the ball. All years were with Bielema.

After a quick stop in 2013 as a defensive quality control guy for California, Jamison would land his first defensive line coach position with Florida Atlantic in 2014. He spent three years there before jumping to Texas Tech, Air Force, and then Purdue, all doing the same work on the defensive line.

Jamison would join the Illinois coaching staff in 2021 as our defensive line coach. The work he has done for the Orange and Blue has been amazing. Not only did Illinois give up just 101.4 yards per game on the ground, which ranked No. 9 in the nation in 2022, but Jamison helped develop some top-level talent.

Johnny Newton has turned into one of the best players in the county on the defensive line. He was a second-team All-American this season and had the No. 7 best defensive grade among all interior defensive linemen. He is going to be an NFL player.

The experience is there for Jamison to be Illinois’ defensive coordinator. He has the ability to develop talent and recruit. He also has a close relationship with Bielema. This hire would make sense.

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