What Washington's Ryan Walters said about Tennessee defensive coordinator job

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Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters dismissed reports that he's a leading candidate to fill Tennessee football's defensive coordinator position after Tim Banks was fired.

The Huskies are preparing to play Boise State in the Bucked Up LA Bowl on Dec. 13. During a press conference previewing the bowl, Walters was asked about his potential candidacy for the Tennessee job.

"That's a pretty easy, connect-the-dots deal,” Walters said on Dec. 9. "Obviously, I’ve coached with a lot of those guys in the past. I respect them fully. But rumors are just rumors. I’ve had zero communication with anybody over there regarding any kind of job.

"There’s an opening there. So if I was a media member, I would connect the same dots as well. So that makes sense. But right now, those are just rumors."

What Ryan Walters said about his future at Washington

That doesn't mean that Walters isn't a candidate. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel could wait until after Washington's bowl game to engage in serious talks with Walters. Walters' agent also could be communicating with a UT representative rather than UT directly.

But perhaps Walters is not being considered, although that seems unlikely. He was asked if he will be at Washington next season.

"I hope so. I really enjoy this place. You know, right now, I am the defensive coordinator at Washington. We’re playing against Boise State on Saturday," Walters said. "I enjoy Seattle. My family lives here. We love it here. That’s where we’re at right now."

Why Ryan Walters would be a Tennessee defensive coordinator candidate

Walters emerged as an obvious option because of his prowess as a defensive coordinator and his connection to Tennessee coach Josh Heupel. Walters worked alongside Heupel at Oklahoma (2012) and Missouri (2016-17).

Walters, 39, served as defensive coordinator at Missouri (2016-20), Illinois (2021-22) and Washington (2025). And he was Purdue's head coach in 2023-24, posting a 5-19 record.

In 2022, Walter's Illinois defense was arguably the best in college football. It ranked No. 1 in scoring defense (12.9 ppg), third in total defense (273.5 ypg), 10th in rushing defense (99.8 ypg) and eighth in pass defense (173.8 ypg).

In 2025, Walter's defense at Washington ranks 21st in scoring defense (19.4 ppg) and 20th in total defense (311.4 ypg). It has allowed only 14 plays of 30-plus yards this season, ranked 12th-fewest in the FBS.

The Huskies played well defensively against a pair of College Football Playoff teams. They lost 24-6 to Ohio State and lost 26-14 to Oregon.

Banks was fired after Tennessee's defense took a downward turn in 2025. The Vols allowed at least 30 points in seven of eight SEC games. They ranked 92nd nationally in scoring defense (28.8 ppg) and 116th in pass defense (248.8 ypg).

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Washington's Ryan Walters addresses Tennessee defensive coordinator job

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