Ohio State didn’t just lose Brian Hartline this offseason. It lost the assistant coach who had become the face of receiver development in Columbus, the guy tied to a run of elite wideouts that included Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Replacing that kind of presence was never going to be simple. Hartline left after one year as offensive coordinator to take over as head coach at South Florida, and Ohio State turned to Cortez Hankton to handle the wide receivers room. Arthur Smith arrived as the new offensive coordinator, and while the verdict on him is still to come, Hankton is already making a strong case on the recruiting trail.
The early returns are hard to ignore. Hankton helped keep Chris Henry Jr. signed after Hartline’s departure, then made sure Jamier Brown stayed committed for the 2027 class.
Both are five-star prospects. He also landed Austin Miller for the 2029 class, a player who is expected to be a five-star when rankings are released for that group, and Jett Harrison, a 2028 five-star receiver, also committed to him.
To be fair, Ohio State’s brand carries weight with recruits, and not every one of those decisions can be pinned entirely on one coach. But Hankton still had to close the deals, and he did.
The next big test is Monshun Sales. If Hankton can secure him too, there won’t be much room left for doubt about what he can do as a recruiter.
That said, recruiting is only part of the job. The real proof comes when the players get on the field and start getting better.
Hankton has to show he can develop receivers, not just attract them. That’s the standard that matters most.
Ohio State has gone through plenty of assistant-coach turnover over the years, and that’s the price of winning at a high level. Other programs come calling, and Ryan Day has had to keep finding replacements who can step in without the whole thing slipping. So far, he’s handled that well.
Hankton also gets a major boost this season from Jeremiah Smith, who is the best weapon in college football and not someone defenses can truly erase. If Smith piles up big numbers, it will help Hankton get rolling in a hurry.
The Buckeyes’ offense should be one of the best in the country, maybe the best. There will be a new playbook under Smith, but Ohio State’s talent is obvious no matter how the offense is drawn up.
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Which Ohio State 5-Star Could Matter First For The Buckeyes Defense
Ohio States 2027 recruiting class already has a star-heavy look, and the Buckeyes are expecting all three of their committed five-stars to get on the field early. Marcus Fakatou, DJ Jacobs and Jamier Brown each bring a different kind of upside, but the conversation around immediate help on defense naturally starts with the players who can fill the most urgent needs.
Jacobs, an edge defender with the kind of frame and burst that make him an obvious pass-rush candidate, appears best positioned to matter first. He and Fakatou both line up at spots where depth is thinner, which gives them a clearer path to meaningful snaps once they arrive, and it is easy to see why Ohio State would want that kind of athleticism ready sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Offense Is Already Being Framed As USCs Biggest Test
The buildup to Ohio States trip to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum already has the feel of a measuring-stick game, even before the calendar flips to Oct. 31. It will be the first time the Buckeyes and USC meet as Big Ten opponents, and the spotlight naturally falls on an Ohio State offense that brings back Julian Sayin at quarterback, Bo Jackson in the backfield and Jeremiah Smith out wide, a trio that gives the Buckeyes the kind of firepower most opponents spend all week trying to contain.
USC has made its own defensive changes, bringing in Gary Patterson, but the Trojans still have a demanding run of games ahead before Ohio State arrives. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are also adjusting to new voices on their staff with Matt Patricia taking over as defensive coordinator and Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, which only adds another layer to a matchup that already looks like one of the early tests of the Big Ten season. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Is Making Ohio States WR Mount Rushmore Uncomfortable
Jeremiah Smith has spent just two seasons making Ohio States wide receiver hierarchy look a little less settled than it used to. Entering his junior year in 2026, he already owns first-team All-American honors in each of his first two seasons, and his production has pushed him into the Buckeyes career top 10 in receptions, yards and touchdowns while putting several school marks squarely in view.
Smiths rise has been fast enough to force an uncomfortable conversation around the programs greatest pass catchers, the kind of discussion usually reserved for names like Cris Carter, David Boston, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. With 163 catches, 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns already on the books, he is not just part of that debate anymore. He is starting to define where it goes next. [Read more 🡒]