Dan Lanning discovered his man on the ground. Ra’Shaad Samples has taken over as the Oregon running backs’ coach, succeeding Carlos Locklyn.
Samples is the Ducks’ latest and greatest associate head coach and running back coach. He was most recently the wide receivers coach and passing games coordinator for the Arizona State Sun Devils, but what else has Samples accomplished in his career?
Prior to his one-year stay with the Sun Devils, Samples took his teaching skills to the NFL. In 2022, he spent one season coaching the Los Angeles Rams’ running backs.
Samples first took over the SMU Mustangs’ running back room. In 2019, he worked as an offensive assistant for SMU before being promoted to running backs coach and recruiting coordinator in 2020.
Before leaving for the NFL, the new Ducks coach was promoted to assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Mustangs in 2021.
He served as Texas’ assistant wide receivers coach for one season in 2018.
Samples began his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Houston Cougars from 2016 to 2017.
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Samples joined Oregon’s spring practice for the first time on April 9. He and the running backs room will compete in Autzen Stadium for the first time together on April 27 in the Ducks’ spring football game.
