On Sunday morning, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning announced that offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer was being let go.
Many fans were waiting for this news, as the Ducks' on-field product has far fallen short of expectations this year, failing to meet the standards set by offenses before it despite a loaded roster with some of the nation's most talented players.
Over seven games, Oregon averages just 24.7 points per game against FBS opponents, ranking 74th in the nation. Their rushing offense (121.5 yards per game) ranks 99th nationally, and their passing offense (248.8 yards per game) ranks 43rd nationally.
Now, the question becomes where the Ducks go next. With Oregon's talent and resources, this should be one of the most coveted OC positions
in the nation, attracting the best talent across college football. In the past, we've seen Lanning lean toward hiring young, up-and-coming offensive minds to take over — think Kenny Dillingham and Will Stein — but there is a desire from the outside for Oregon to go the veteran route and lean on an experienced and proven play-caller.
We likely will not have an answer until later in the year, after the season has come to a close, but here are some early names that I think are worth keeping an eye on.
Chip Kelly — Northwestern OC
This is the first name that everyone is going to mention. Chip Kelly, one of the most successful head coaches in Oregon history, has carved out an incredibly nice career for himself as an offensive coordinator since his string of head coaching jobs. He won a national championship as the OC of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and is currently one of the main reasons for the Northwestern Wildcats' turnaround this year as the OC in Chicago.
If Lanning is looking for an experienced play-caller, a top offensive mind, and someone who knows the Oregon program through and through, then Kelly should be at the top of his list. This move would be celebrated by Duck fans around the nation.
Dana Holgorsen — Nebraska OC
Dana Holgorsen is another potential candidate with head coaching experience, and he's done a lot to help turn around the Nebraska offense over the past couple of seasons. Holgorsen is a well-respected offensive mind with a sharp passing attack, and he has experience in the Big Ten. While the Cornhuskers have committed significant resources to him, the Ducks have the need and the money to try and pry him away.
Aaron Roderick — BYU OC
Aaron Roderick may not be as well-known a name as the others on this list, but he has spent a long time in the West and has had a lot of success as the OC and QB coach for the BYU Cougars under Kalani Sitake. The quarterback development is a key piece here, but getting him away from BYU, where he played college ball, would not be easy.
Buster Faulkner — Florida OC
A year ago, when we were talking about who the Ducks would hire to replace Will Stein, Buster Faulkner was considered among the people at the top of the list. Might Oregon try to run it back? Of course, Faulkner took over as the OC with the Florida Gators, but with the downturn that their season has taken, it might be possible to pry him away this offseason. Lanning and Faulkner have history together, having worked alongside each other at Georgia. This would be a tough one to get done, but maybe the top answer on the board.
Rob Ezell — Wake Forest OC
A lesser-known candidate, undoubtedly, but someone who has a lot of upside. Rob Ezell is on the younger side, only 37 years old, which would make a lot of Oregon fans nervous, but he has a track record of production at South Alabama, and now with Wake Forest under Jake Dickert. Ezell is part of the Nick Saban coaching tree, getting his start as a GA and Offensive Assistant at Alabama, so this could be one that Lanning leans on.
Slade Nagle — Houston OC
This one might be the sweet spot for Oregon. Nagle is a veteran assistant who has great experience working alongside Willie Fritz at Tulane and Houston, and has played a major role in helping transform the Cougars' offense over the past year. He's a former QB with a lot of experience developing at the position, and could be a bit easier to grab considering he is a more under-the-radar name.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon OC Hotboard: Where the Ducks go at offensive coordinator
