In a newly-released dashcam video, University of Oregon assistant football coach Ra’Shaad Samples can be seen leaving the scene of an accident before his DUII arrest in April.
In the video, obtained by The Oregonian, Samples’ Ford F-150 is shown backing into another car, belonging to Eugene, Oregon resident Steven Young. Samples’ car then drives out of the parking lot as Young follows him in his Dodge Ram.
“I did not realize I backed into anything until I pulled away,” Samples, 31, told The Oregonian via his lawyer in a story published Tuesday, August 4.
Samples was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving, according to court records viewed by Us. His initial hearing was held July 20 at Eugene Municipal Court and he is due back in court on August 25. Samples has not entered a plea.
The video, which came from Young’s dash cam, later shows Young telling the coach that he backed into him, which Samples claimed to have not realized. Samples then ran a red light before pulling into another parking lot to talk to Young.
The two exchanged insurance information, where Samples claimed his name was DeSean Jackson. (The real DeSean Jackson played in the NFL from 2008 to 2022 and is now the head football coach at Delaware State University.)
“After I pulled over and stopped, I gave the driver my license and insurance,” Samples told The Oregonian. “I gave him my information that included my name. He kept asking me, ‘Who are you? Who are you?’ He had my name. I got a little frustrated, and I gave him a cheeky response. ‘DeSean Jackson.’ Jackson is my favorite football player.”
When Young realized Samples is actually the Ducks’ running backs coach, he threatened to send the video to head coach Dan Lanning, as Samples repeatedly asked him not to. Young told the outlet that Samples also offered him football tickets and $1,000 to walk away. The dash cam video did not pick up the audio of their conversation.
“I was like, ‘No,” Young said. “I was like, ‘I’ve got kids in the car. I’ve got minors in the car. Let’s do this right. Let’s do this correct.’”
The Oregonian also received audio of phone calls between the two parties after the fact, in which Samples reportedly continued to offer Young football tickets.
“If I can do something for your family, if there’s a game, if there’s anything I can do, bro,” Samples said. “It would make me feel better if I’ve shown some appreciation, if you ever need it.”
Text messages also reportedly show Samples later offering Young $2,500 rather than going through insurance.
“I don’t think he’s a bad guy,” Young told The Oregonian. “I think he made a terrible decision. I think since he made that decision, he’s just been trying to cover it all up. And that’s not what you do when you’re teaching young adults to be men.”
Samples is still listed on the Ducks’ athletics website and the university has not announced any disciplinary action.
“We take these matters seriously and have taken appropriate action,” the athletic department said in a written statement to The Oregonian.
