Brian Hartline has been one incredible addition to an elite Ohio State coaching staff.
While he inherited an elite group of receivers that feated K.J. Hill and Parris Campbell in 2018, his first season as the full-time positional coach, Hartline — a former NFL receiver himself — has taken the unit to the next level.
With Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Hill last season, the Buckeyes receivers were among the best in the nation, and much of their success can be attributed to Hartline.
The 33-year-old had a seven-year NFL career. Having played his last snaps for the Cleveland Browns in 2015, Hartline transitioned to coaching.
Hartline has turned into one of the hottest recruiters in the country, and a lot of the prospects are headed to his wide-receiver room in Columbus. With recruits like Garrett Wilson and Julian Fleming, does Hartline think he could still manage to play with the future NFL stars?
He doesn’t even think he’d make the top six according to the most recent episode of 247Sports’ Social Distancing with Barton Simmons.
“I’m not going to make the top six,” Hartline said with a laugh. “These guys in the room are ballers, man. So I’m going to keep my movements to a five-yard space, and I’m going to make sure they can see the movements and how we want to be excelling, re-excelling and that’s about it.”
Hartline was modest. While he may not have the quickness and may not be in shape enough to take them on now, give him a few months of preparing, and there’s no doubt in my mind he could be close to their level.
In two of his five seasons with the Dolphins, Hartline notched over 1,000 yards. That’s not an accomplishment that most in the league ever tough so it does show just how impressive Hartline the NFL player was.
For now, let’s just hope he can continue to pass down the lessons he’s learned to the next generation.
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