Oregon Coach Could be on SEC Program's Radar

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The South Carolina Gamecocks have several members of its team needing to prove it this fall. 

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers hasn't proven to be a Day 1 or Day 2 pick yet, but that could change if his play matches the talent league scouts believe he has. 

Sellers' head coach, Shane Beamer, enters the fall on the hot seat. If South Carolina parts ways with Beamer, the opening could be of interest to first-year Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, who played for the Gamecocks.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg named Hampton as a coach that could get a look for a head coaching gig in the next hiring cycle.

"Oregon's past two coordinators (Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi) vaulted to Power 4 jobs, and Hampton could follow a similar path if the Ducks deliver on big expectations," Rittenberg wrote. 

"He held a co-coordinator role during the past three seasons with Lupoi after serving as Tulane's DC in 2021 and 2022. Hampton, 40, played at South Carolina and has also coached defensive backs at Duke, so he has some geographic versatility."

Former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein left for Kentucky, so it wouldn't be far-fetched to see the SEC go after a Ducks coordinator. After all, Dan Lanning was a coordinator at Georgia before taking over at Oregon.

Duke is another potential option for Hampton. The Blue Devils were pleased enough with Manny Diaz to give him a contract extension this offseason. However, Diaz could look to take a more prestigious job, opening up a spot in the ACC. 

Hampton will enter the season with lofty expectations for a defense filled with playmakers in the trenches and in the secondary. Oregon should have one of the top defensive units in the country.

The Ducks are expected to compete in the College Football Playoff and make a run at the national championship. If Oregon makes the CFP, its coaching staff will no doubt be the envy of teams looking for new coaches.

The coordinator turnover at Oregon has some around college football worried that the Ducks could struggle out of the gate. If Hampton succeeds, the Ducks may have a similar problem next year.

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