Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning's Newest Hire Ross Douglas: Rising Star Recruiter?

Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning is reportedly set to hire Syracuse Orange wide receivers coach Ross Douglas for the same position at Oregon after Junior Adams was hired by the Dallas Cowboys. Will there be any recruiting drop off from Adams to Douglas?

Charlie Viehl

Dec 30, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning on the Big Ten Network stage during Rose Bowl media day at Sheraton Grand LA.
Dec 30, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning on the Big Ten Network stage during Rose Bowl media day at Sheraton Grand LA. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Oregon Ducks wide receiver coach Junior Adams was hired for the same role with the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, and it appears as though Oregon coach Dan Lanning has replaced Adams and filled out his own staff with former Syracuse Orange wide receivers coach Ross Douglas.

According to a report from CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Lanning and the Ducks are expected to hire Douglas, but the school has yet to officially announce the hire.

Douglas is considered a rising star in the coaching industry, as referenced by Zentiz, helping lead the Syracuse Orange to the No. 1 passing offense in the country under quarterback Kyle McCord. Additionally, Douglas is expected to bring more recruiting abilities to a staff that recently signed the No. 4 class in the 2025 cycle, according to On3's Industry Rankings.

Oregon's newest assistant coach started his career as a graduate assistant with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in 2018 before working with the New England Patriots and legendary coach Bill Belichick in a number of roles, including coaching wide receivers. Most recently, Douglas spent one season as Syracuse's wide receivers coach before reportedly accepting the same job at Oregon.

Despite only coaching at Syracuse for one season, Douglas was able to show off his recruiting abilities in the class of 2025. Out of the Orange's top-10 highest rated commits, four of them are three-star wide receivers who were recruited by Douglas: Darien Williams, Terrell Wilfong, Julian McFadden, and Gabe Daniels.

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At Oregon, however, Douglas has the potential to sign multiple five-star wide receivers alongside the Ducks coaching staff. Some of the Ducks' biggest targets at wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting cycle include five-stars Chris Henry Jr., currently committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes commit, and Calvin Russell, the No. 5-ranked receiver in the nation, according to 247Sports. Oregon currently does not hold a commitment from any wide receivers from the class of 2026.

Prior to leaving for the Dallas Cowboys wide receivers job, Junior Adams signed five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore as well as four-star Cooper Perry in the 2025 class. Adams and the Ducks received a signature from five-star receiver Dallas Wilson before the elite recruit requested his release from Oregon and flipped to the Florida Gators.

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning on the Big Ten Network stage during Rose Bowl media day at Sheraton Grand LA
Dec 30, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning on the Big Ten Network stage during Rose Bowl media day at Sheraton Grand LA. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Adams was not the only member of Oregon's coaching staff to receive interest from the NFL, specifically from the Cowboys. Ducks running back coach Ra'Shaad Samples was a target of newly hired Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer, but Samples decided to stay with Lanning and the Ducks.

According to a report from Joe Hoyt of DLLS Sports, Samples is receiving an increase in his salary and is expected to earn over $700,000 for each of the next two seasons. With Samples remaining in Eugene, Oregon, there was speculation of him shifting to coach the wide receivers, meaning Lanning would hire a new running backs coach.

However, Lanning has seemingly found his hire in Douglas, allowing Samples to remain the team's running backs coach. Will the combination of Douglas and Samples on the recruiting trail be enough to replace Adams?

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Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is a 23-year old Boston College graduate and is an Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans beat reporter for On SI. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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