Ohio State's Wide Receiver Room: A New Era with Cortez Hankton
Cortez Hankton is making waves as Ohio State's new wide receivers coach, and it's been quite the start. He managed to retain key 2026 signees Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford, which is no small feat. Adding to the excitement, he brought along Kyle Parker from LSU, and the Buckeyes have held onto their prized 2027 commit, Jamier Brown, ranked as the nation's No. 2 receiver for that class.
However, the transfer portal has thinned out the wide receiver depth, and Hankton is on the hunt for one or two top-tier recruits to bolster the lineup. The talent pool includes Indiana's Monshun Sales, the nation's No. 1 receiver, alongside Louisiana's Easton Royal, Florida's Eric McFarland, Tennessee's Kesean Bowman, and Michigan's Dakota Guerrant, all ranked within the top seven.
A recruiting insider commented, "Hankton's done a commendable job stabilizing the situation after Brian Hartline's departure. The real test will be whether he can recruit at the same high level. It's a tough task, but Hankton has a compelling program to offer."
Easton Royal has already committed to Texas, but with signing day in December, there's still a window for Ohio State to bring him in for a visit. Monshun Sales, a towering presence at 6-5 and 195 pounds, would be a significant acquisition, especially prying him away from the reigning national champions, Indiana.
Eric McFarland, though not the tallest at 5-8 and 180 pounds, is a standout on the field. Hankton might have the best shot at securing his commitment, adding a dynamic element to Ohio State's future offensive plans.
The Buckeyes are in a transitional phase, but with Hankton at the helm, the wide receiver room is poised for exciting developments.