Ohio State’s wide receiver room has long been one of the most prolific pipelines in college football. It is a position group that not only feeds explosive offensive production, but consistently produces NFL talent.
That standard was most recently embodied and lived by Brian Hartline, who coached elite receivers such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith before departing to become head coach at South Florida.
In the wake of that transition,
Ohio State has turned to Cortez Hankton to take over as wide receivers coach, hoping his resume and experience can sustain and even elevate the program’s “Wide Receiver U” identity.
Hankton comes to Columbus after four seasons on LSU’s staff, most recently serving as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. There, the Tigers ranked among the top two in the SEC in passing offense twice, with LSU’s aerial attack finishing No. 1 in 2023 and No. 2 in 2024 under his guidance.
He coached and developed some of the SEC’s premier playmakers, including Kyren Lacy, who led the league in touchdown receptions in 2024, and helped develop talent that translated to the NFL, such as Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
A proven developer of wide receievers
Hankton’s reputation as a receiver developer is well established. Before LSU, he spent four seasons at Georgia, contributing to a national championship-level passing game and coaching future NFL receivers such as George Pickens and Mecole Hardman. He also coached at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth earlier in his career, giving him a wide range of experience with different offensive systems and receiver talent levels.
His resume is notable not just for volume of experience, but for consistent production of NFL talent and elite collegiate receivers, a key part of Ohio State’s identity. The Buckeyes’ WRU tradition wasn’t built entirely by Hartline, but he became one of its most prominent architects, overseeing a receiver room that produced first-round picks and All-Americans year after year.
Hankton arrives with similar credentials and a track record of helping receivers transition from college standouts to NFL players, which also fits Ohio State’s standards.
A loaded receiver room set to sustain the standard
The timing of the hire gives Hankton key assets to work with immediately.
Jeremiah Smith is expected back for the 2026 season, coming off back to back seasons establishing himself as one of the nation’s premier receivers. A highly regarded freshman in Chris Henry Jr. and other talented players such as Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter, and Brandon Innis give Hankton a strong base of proven and promising talent.
With that mix of experience and youth, Ohio State’s receiving corps remains deeper than almost all in the country.
The key for Hankton will be continuity, especially in technique refinement, route nuance, and preparation for high-pressure situations. Hartline’s legacy at Ohio State was not just recruiting great athletes but turning them into skilled route runners with polished hands, advanced recognition of coverage, and NFL readiness.
Hankton’s background in developing high-level receivers suggests he understands those nuances and can bring that same level of detail to Columbus.
Challenges and expectations
Of course, stepping into Hartline’s shoes is no small task.
Hartline spent years building trust with recruits, players, and the broader Ohio State culture. That continuity and relationship strength helped retain elite talent and bring new receivers to the program. While Hankton’s resume is elite, his primary challenge will be inheriting not just a room full of weapons but a culture of expectation.
If he can integrate his coaching acumen with Ohio State’s identity, blending development, recruiting acumen, and strategic usage of a deep receiver room, the Buckeyes should remain at the forefront of elite receiver production.
With Smith and Henry Jr. leading the way, and a supporting cast full of positional promise, Hankton has both the talent and opportunity to uphold the WRU title that Hartline helped solidify.
