The Illinois Fighting Illini recently hired former Arkansas and Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema to replace Lovie Smith.

Now, Bielema is trying to put together his staff, and he’s targeting a few big names for his defensive coordinator position.

Per FootballScoop.com, Bielema has conducted an interview with Mizzou DC Ryan Walters for the same job in Champaign:

Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that Bielema’s been conducting interviews with Missouri’s Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State’s Jim Knowles and Wofford’s Josh Conklin.

Walters has been at Mizzou since 2015. Will he consider leaving for the Illini, who are entering a rebuilding phase?

We’ll see what happens as Bielema puts together his first staff at Illinois.