Another Member of Oregon Ducks Coaching Staff Earns Preseason Recognition

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks have quite the hype train behind them, which includes several preseason accolades for the athletes and staff amongst the programs' highest-ever preseason AP Poll rating.

Besides coach Dan Lanning's CBS Sports Preseason Coach of the Year recognition and Dodd Trophy preseason watch list, another member of the Ducks' defensive minds finds himself on a prestigious list.

Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei (10) makes a confetti angel following the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kamran Araghi Receives Coaching Honor

Kamran Araghi, the defensive edge position coach for the Ducks, is one of the names on the 247Sports' 30 under 30 list. In it's 10th year of existence, the list highlights younger coaching talent across the nation, with the first ever list in 2017 featuring former Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and current Ducks offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer.

Former Oregon staff members that also received a nod on the list include Darrion Daniels (California) and Cutter Leftwich (Kentucky), who both followed Lanning's former offensive and defensive coordinators Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi to their new programs. Each of these Oregon affiliated coaches are all 28 years old, which 28 to 29 year old's make up the majority of the list.

With Lanning frequently trusting in young talent across his coaching staff, it only makes sense that Araghi would add to the growing list of Duck coaches finding themselves on the 30 under 30 list. In fact, Lanning himself was seen as a younger pick for the Oregon Ducks coaching job in Dec. of 2021 at the age of 35. Perhaps Lanning getting that head coaching chance when he was younger inspired him to do the same for others.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks during a press conference on Aug. 15, 2026, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Oregon. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Giving Talent A Chance

Even during Big Ten Media Days, Lanning spoke to the importance of creating opportunities for young coaches to advance in his system, as Mehringer takes up his first season calling the offense and former safeties coach Chris Hampton steps into his first season as defensive coordinator.

“It’s going to take a little bit more practice as we go into the season of us doing mock games where I get to hear them call a game and see what’s different. But what gave me so much confidence is seeing these guys the last three years, creating some of those opportunities for them to be in that role and see what it looks like," Lanning said about his excitement to see his younger talents like Hampton and Mehringer rise up through the system.

Perhaps, the 30 under 30 list is an early sign of which position coaches could also potentially rise up through the ranks with their start coming from the Ducks and Lanning's program.

The Duck rides into Autzen Stadium before the game against James Madison in Eugene Dec. 20, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

What Kamran Araghi Brings To Oregon

The young edge coach has made his way through the program since being selected as an inaugural member of Lanning's staff in 2022 as a graduate assistant and defensive analyst. Since then, Araghi has spoke to how Lupoi's mentorship helped him elevate forwards in the Oregon program.

This season, Araghi steps into a talented edge room featuring returning veterans Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. There's also Oregon State transfer Bleu Dantzler, and sophomore Nasir Wyatt, which Araghi recently stated had done a "full 180" on his body composition over the off season.

Araghi spoke to the press the Friday before Oregon's first fall camp scrimmage about the state of the edge room. Besides speaking the praises of previously stated player, he also shared about the "havoc" he's aiming for his room to bring to the turf this season.

"I think it's going to come down to who's playing above-the-line football and who's playing winning football for us, so we can go out, align, assign, execute and play with relentless effort. We'd like to get as many guys involved as possible, but I don't know how many guys are going to be available for us based on who's playing great football at the end of camp," Araghi said about the fall scrimmage.

"The things I'm looking for are alignment, assignment, effort and execution. We talk about our A's and E's in the room. I'm really intrigued to see who shows up tomorrow so that, as we get closer and closer to Game 1, we know who is going to be able to be in that rotation. But there's no cap on it."

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