I don't recall seeing him on Rivals' top 25 DCs. He would not have been my choice. Chavis would be a better choice. His stats at UCLA has been anything but impressive. I hope this is just a bad rumor.
They have Walker #24, Chavis #9. In the preseason, they had Walker #6, Chavis #18. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/viewCFSE.asp
I could care less what conference he comes from. I am far more interested in his track record. I think Miles could do a lot better than Walker.
Here's a thought. The knock on Chavis is his big cushion from db's and 3rd down D. Walker's strength is his tackles for loss(blitz) and 3rd down D. Mixed with coach O @ dline I can see much potential, IF he's the guy. Just sayin'...
The Birmingham News reported Monday Chizik told Tuberville's coaches at a staff meeting Sunday night that they should seek jobs elsewhere. One source close to Chizik said, after that meeting [on Sunday night], he talked to defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and linebackers coach James Willis about staying. Willis was spotted late Monday pushing a cart full of his office belongings out of the football building. http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1229418957167420.xml&coll=2 Also, Rhoads is being mentioned as a candidate for Iowa State, where he used to be a coach for five years (1995-99). Rhoads is from Iowa.
Here's an interesting take by Bayou Bengal Blog: Dec 14 -- Coaching Picture Starting To Look Clearer: No official moves have been made, but the rumor mill is starting to get pretty loud about head football coach Les Miles and his plans to retool his staff after the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. ... Miles seems to have zeroed in on his top choice as LSU's new defensive coordinator, and it's UCLA's DeWayne Walker. The key thing with Walker has been his pursuit of a head coaching position, but with the San Diego State job going to Ball State's Brady Hoke, which broke yesterday, it looks like Walker is getting shut out of the jobs he was pursuing. The problem Walker had this year is he was the defensive coordinator on a bad UCLA team. The Bruins were just plain horrible on offense, and because of that their defensive numbers suffered. Prior to this year, though, Walker had been putting together a reputation for UCLA's defense as the best unit on the West Coast not named USC. Walker is a no-nonsense, hard-edged guy as a defensive coordinator, perhaps even harder-edged than Bo Pelini was, and he demands accountability and performance from his people. That would make him a terrific fit for LSU's defense, which was rudderless this year and definitely did not play as a team. A strong leader like Walker, who also happens to be well-regarded as an X's and O's man, who's known for aggressive, hard-hitting defenses and who has worked with some true masters of the game in Joe Gibbs, Bill Belichick, LaVell Edwards and Pete Carroll during his time as a coach, is a sensational fit. Saturday night, though, the plot seemed to thicken a little. Contrary to previous reports, the story is now that Ed Orgeron is very much in the mix for LSU's coaching staff. Miles and Orgeron reportedly had a pow-wow in one of the suites at the Superdome during the 5A championship game Saturday night, and the word is things went well. Orgeron now seems to be in as the LSU defensive line coach for next year. Walker and Orgeron are a nice fit, as they're both of the hard-ass school and together they would seem to promote a much tougher attitude on the LSU defense. They also both served under Carroll at USC in 2002, which was the year USC clobbered Iowa in the Orange Bowl and set the table for their AP national championship run the next season. http://www.bayoubengalblog.com/
Thanks for this good article/synopsis, JohnLSU. Talent has really fallen off at UCLA in recent years, and the defense has been under a lot of stress with the inefficiencies of the offense (sound familiar?). The defense under DW was excellent for several years. I agree with Legacy Tiger; the constellation of changes, if accurate, would be very exciting as a whole, a homerun, not a grand slam, but some excellent moves, IMHO. Combine this with the potential for a #1 recruiting class and we have some things to be real excited about next year. The Tigers will be back baby!!!
I think that blog is wrong. I doubt Orgeron is coming to LSU. If he goes anywhere he will team back up with Lane Kiffin at Tennessee with the hopes of being defensive coordinator when Monte Kiffin retires. It makes no sense for him to come here as a defensive line coach.
