Oregon Signees Discuss Coaching Changes Within The Program

    Several Oregon signees spoke to Campus Insiders about coaching changes within the program on a day where Jimmie Dougherty left the Ducks for UCLA, and Dameyune Craig emerged as a candidate for the wide receivers coaching job.


    Several Oregon signees spoke to Campus Insiders about coaching changes within the program on a day where Jimmie Dougherty left the Ducks for UCLA, and Dameyune Craig emerged as a candidate for the wide receivers coaching job. 


    The coaching moves continue to fall like snowflakes.

    On Wednesday, news broke that Oregon wide receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty had been hired by UCLA to serve as the Bruins’ wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

    Hours later, Football Scoop reported the Ducks were vetting former LSU wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig as a potential replacement for Dougherty. Craig was fired by the Tigers less than 24 hours after National Signing Day after just one season in Baton Rouge.

    As of post, many of the top 2017 signees the Ducks are bringing into Eugene haven’t heard much about the potential for Craig to join Willie Taggart’s staff. In fact, some had not even heard about Dougherty’s departure until Wednesday — including 4-star prospect Jaylon Redd, who’s planning on playing wide receiver for Oregon.

    “Man, I feel like it’s foul for Coach [Dougherty] to come sit in my house and explain all his ideas to me, as to how he can use me and wants to [use me] and all that, and then goes and leaves,” Redd told Campus Insiders. “I feel that was out of line, but whoever the next wide receiver coach is, I’m going to give him a chance and rock with him just like I did for the rest of the staff when coach Helf left.”

    Redd was ranked as the No. 157 overall player in the 2017 class. And he wasn’t alone in being surprised by Dougherty’s move to Los Angeles. Bruce Judson, a 3-star signee for the Ducks and the No. 43 athlete in the 2017 cycle, also didn’t see it coming.

    However, Judson is excited about the idea of Craig potentially joining Oregon.

    “It’s going to be big [if we hire him],” Judson told Campus Insiders. “I can’t wait to meet him and get a relationship with him so we can get ready and build this.”

    Deommodore Lenoir, another 4-star Oregon signee, told Campus Insiders he plans on playing some snaps at wide receiver for the Ducks as well. He wasn’t pleased with Dougherty’s departure, but he did wish him well at UCLA.

    “That’s my guy. He’s gonna’ do well there. Good luck to him,” Lenoir said.

    Neither Thomas Graham Jr., another blue-chip recruit in the Ducks’ 2017 haul, nor Lenoir, had heard a word about the possibility of Craig joining the Oregon staff.

    Before being hired by LSU prior to last season, Craig spent time with his alma mater, Auburn, as its co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2013 to 2015. He coached Florida State’s wide receivers from 2010 to 2012.

    If Craig does land the job in Eugene, he’ll join a staff filled with elite recruiters, including Mario Cristobal and Taggart, himself.

    MORE: Pac-12 Football Projections, Storylines For 2017 Season

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