Oregon assistant Ra'Shaad Samples reportedly said name was 'DeSean Jackson' after crash that resulted in DUII, reckless driving charges

Ra’Shaad Samples, Oregon’s running backs coach and assistant head coach since 2024, was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and reckless driving because of an April 12 incident, in which the 31-year-old backed his Ford F-150 into a parked car, as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The outlet recently obtained dashcam footage from the Dodge Ram Samples hit. The Oregonian/OregonLive disseminated that video in a Tuesday report. Samples can be seen leaving the scene immediately after the incident, which occurred just before 2 a.m. local time.

The owner of the Dodge Ram, reportedly Steven James Young of Eugene, ultimately followed Samples and confronted him for insurance information, as shown in the clip. While the reported footage ends with both cars pulling over, text messages and a phone call suggest that Samples gave Young a false name the night of the incident, per The Oregonian/OregonLive. Samples, though, claimed via his lawyer in a Tuesday statement to outlet that he first offered his real name before eventually saying it was “DeSean Jackson” in what he characterized as a “cheeky response” out of frustration.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who starred for the Philadelphia Eagles, is Samples’ favorite football player, he clarified in the statement, which contradicts what Young reportedly purported. According to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s report, Young said Samples initially declined to exchange insurance information or provide a driver’s license on the scene, and that when Samples later texted him a screenshot of the USAA insurance app with information on prior claims for a different vehicle — Samples reportedly has since stated that he was driving a loaner vehicle at the time — he also sent the name, “Deshaun Jackson.”

Eugene police reportedly cited an ongoing investigation when declining to relay a full report of the incident.

In the video, Samples is filmed pulling out of a parking spot, driving forward and then reversing back into Young’s vehicle. Although Samples went backward at a relatively low speed, the collision appeared to cause both cars to shake. Then, after a slight pause, Young slowly drove off despite bystanders seemingly filming and yelling. Young went after Samples. The footage skips to him following Samples on the road, reportedly down Olive Street and 7th Avenue, as Samples drove in the middle of two lanes. Approaching a red light, Young pulled up alongside Samples and said, “Hey, you just [expletive] hit me, bro.”

“Did I?” Samples said.

Young responded: “Yeah, I got you on [expletive] dashcam and everything.”

Samples repeated “my bad” and agreed to pull over. Then he ran a red light before doing so.

“I did not realize I backed into anything until I pulled away,” Samples said in his Tuesday statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, which also reported that text messages between Samples and Young appear to show Samples trying to pay Young up to $2,500 for potential damages instead of going through their insurance carriers.

In a phone conversation, Samples reportedly offered Young football game tickets.

“While I saw no damage to his vehicle, I offered to pay for any damage,” Samples said via his lawyer, per The Oregonian/OregonLive. “I don’t remember offering him any game tickets. I routinely give people game tickets. If I meet someone who wants to go to a game, I give them tickets. I don’t believe I’ve ever told someone no.”

Young said a Eugene police officer providing him updates on the case gave him Samples’ real name. On April 12, hours after the incident, Young reportedly emailed Oregon head coach Dan Lanning about what happened. By phone, Samples conveyed to Young why he didn’t want him to send Lanning the dashcam footage, per The Oregonian/OregonLive’s report.

Samples’ playing career ended in the collegiate ranks. A highly touted wideout coming out of high school, he spent time at Oklahoma State and Houston, although he medically retired after a slew of concussions. He turned to coaching and has held several gigs so far. In 2022, he was the Los Angeles Rams’ running backs coach. At the time, he was the youngest-ever position coach in NFL history at only 27 years old. Before coming to Oregon, he served as Arizona State’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Samples’ next court date is set for Aug. 25, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregon’s first game is on Sept. 5.

“We take these matters seriously and have taken appropriate action,” Oregon athletics said in a statement, per The Oregonian/OregonLive.