I mean who knows what Leonhard wants, but coming here would be kind of all downside no upside for him.
It would be basically impossible for him to outperform what Walters did this year or what he himself did as a B1G DC in the couple of years prior. And even if he does great, it's still within the bosom of the Wisconsin coaching universe.
I'm sure Leonhard is very disappointed right now, he just had his dream job rather surprisingly snatched from him.
His is a weird resume, he got started so late because of his long NFL career and then achieved massive success almost immediately, but only at his alma mater in a situation it's difficult to picture him outside of. The only other job he ever was reported to be close to taking was the Packers DC job, it's like a parody of Wisconsin Guy.
He'll have higher profile and more remunerative offers than this (including just staying as Fickell's DC, a move Fickell himself once parlayed successfully), but I'm not so sure a year at Nick Saban Analyst Academy isn't his savviest move right now. Get outside the nest and take a look at things from a different perspective. He's 41, there's nothing but time. He's only been a football coach for seven years.