Herb Gould of the Sun-Times says Illinois football coach Ron Zook is considering bringing on Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson as defensive coordinator.

Gould thinks Johnson would be a great addition, and I agree. I'm tired of the "two-headed monster" of Curt Mallory and Dan Disch serving as co-defensive coordinators. I think the Illini defensive players would benefit from hearing one voice. In addition, the defensive calls were far too conservative last season, IMO. Change would be welcome from my perspective.

Former TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz has joined the Illini program in the same capacity, replacing Mike Locksley, who took the head coaching job at New Mexico.

Zook is also in the market for a new offensive line coach, after Eric Wolford left to take the same position at South Carolina. There will also be a new defensive line coach at Illinois next year, as Zook has relieved Tom Sims of his duties.