CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois  defensive coordinator Ryan Walters was named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year, 247Sports announced Tuesday. 

Illinois ranked in the top 10 in the nation in 17 major defensive categories during the regular season, including leading the nation in interceptions (22), ranking second in scoring defense (12.3), and third in total defense (263.8). Walters' unit is led by Bednarik Award semifinalists CB Devon Witherspoon and DT Jer'Zhan Newton, as Illinois and Alabama are the only teams with two Bednarik semifinalists, which lists the top 20 defenders in the nation. 

"Ryan has made a tremendous impact on our entire football program on and off the field," said head coach Bret Bielema. "Specifically on defense, he allowed our players to have ownership in what we do and, in turn, invested in them daily to raise the expectations and standards on defense to a championship level. Congrats to Ryan on the very deserved honor of Defensive Coordinator of the Year."

Illinois' defense is ranked third in the nation by ESPN's SP+ metric and second by PFF. The defense allowed 12.8 points per game in road/neutral site games, the best in the country, and 11.9 points per game at home, its best mark at Memorial Stadium since the 1983 Big Ten championship team allowed 9.4 per game. 

The defense has powered Illinois resurgence this season, as the Illini went 8-4 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten, and qualified for the program's top bowl game in 15 years. It was the Illini's first finish above .500 in the Big Ten since the 2007 team went 6-2 and the first January bowl game since the 2007 team played in the 2008 Rose Bowl Game. 

Following conference championship games, Illinois will enter bowl season ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (12.2), interceptions (22), passing efficiency defense (89.8), passing touchdowns allowed (8), yards per pass attempt (5.4), and takeaways (30). The Illini will match up with No. 22 Mississippi State at the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2 in Tampa, Florida.