There’s been a not-insignificant amount of hand-wringing around the news that Ryan Walters is leaving Mizzou for Bret Beliema’s staff at Illinois. It would be one thing if Walters were recently fired and looking for a place to hang his hat. But taking a worse job — calling it a “lateral move” would be charity, sorry Illini fans — while on seemingly good terms with the Missouri program has caused some concerns.
However, it makes more sense than you’d think when you stop and consider the context. Walters was not Eli Drinkwitz’s hand-picked defensive coordinator, even if he was retained during last year’s transition.