BOULDER — University of Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins reportedly has settled on Denver Johnson to coach the Buffaloes offensive line.

Johnson spent the past nine seasons as Illinois State’s head coach. He declined comment to the (Bloomington-Normal Ill.) Pantagraph, telling the newspaper he wanted the announcement to come from CU.

Johnson, 50, would replace Jeff Grimes, who spent two seasons on Hawkins’ staff as offensive line coach/running game coordinator before being hired in mid-January by Auburn.

In nine seasons at Illinois State, Johnson compiled a 48-54 record before stepping down at the conclusion of the 2008 season. He was the head coach for three years at Murray State (Ky.) before accepting the Illinois State job, and last worked as an assistant at Oklahoma in 1996.

His 12-year record as a head coach was 69-66.

Johnson, a native of Seminole, Okla., also was an assistant at Tennessee-Martin, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State. He played in the offensive line at Tulsa and had short stints in the USFL (Los Angeles, Houston) and NFL (Tampa Bay).

Hawkins did not respond to a message left Monday night. The Illinois newspaper said Johnson’s formal announcement by CU was expected Wednesday.