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Oregon Ducks coach named among top candidates for Ohio State DC vacancy
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- Oregon Ducks coach named among top candidates for Ohio State DC vacancy
Players aren't the only ones coming and going this college football offseason. Coaches are hitting the road left and right, and one of, if not the biggest, hiring splashes this offseason just occurred: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Columbus to join the Penn State Nittany Lions for the same position in Happy Valley.
With an unexpected opening on the Ohio State coaching staff, Oregon co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton is being suggested as a prime candidate for the job.
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Sources told On3.com ($) that last year, Hampton received interest from five schools across the ACC and SEC to become a top defensive coordinator. He turned down those potential jobs and returned to Eugene for the 2025 season. The Ducks went on to have a stellar defensive year, ranking No. 15 in the nation in yards allowed per game, with 315.9.
Hiring an Oregon coach away from the Ducks wouldn't be anything new for the Buckeyes as head coach Ryan Day was able to hire Carlos Locklyn a year ago as their running backs coach, replacing Tony Alford, who in turn left Columbus to go to Michigan.
Hampton might be a candidate for Ohio State, but he is far from being the only possible coach to replace Knowles. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, Arkansas DC Travis Williams and Ohio State safeties coach Matt Guerrieri are thought to be up for the job as well.
