Ohio State is shelling out nearly $12 million to Ryan Day’s assistant coaches this season. FOX Sports’ RJ Young dove into why Brian Hartline is well-deserving of his share.
RJ Young Details Brian Hartline’s Importance to Ohio State
Brian Hartline has been an assistant on Ryan Day’s staff for eight seasons. He’s drawn talent such as Jeremiah Smith, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The list of his recruiting additions is far more expansive.
FOX Sports’ RJ Young discussed Hartline’s recently revealed salary, along with the Buckeyes’ other assistant coaches.
“The other thing that really got my attention here was the $2 million being paid to Brian Hartline as the play-calling offensive coordinator now and not just the passing game offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach,” Young said last Friday on “The Number One College Football Show.” “When you look at what he has been able to accomplish and you are talking about what Ohio State has become, it’s difficult to talk about Ohio State football without thinking of Brian Hartline as being one of the catalysts for how they’ve been able to succeed over the last six, seven years.
“I realize that there are those that do remember what Zach was able to do, but I think what Brian Hartline has been able to do since taking over as wide receivers coach is phenomenal.”
Hartline has helped develop a number of first-round picks, including the 2023 Biletnikoff Award winner, Harrison, and the program’s all-time most productive pass-catcher, Egbuka.
“The best wide receiver prospect since Cris Carter in Jeremiah Smith, playing his ball in his second year at Ohio State,” Young said. “And that’s before we get to Chris Olave and his development from a three-star recruit into a first-round talent. Garrett Wilson, who went from five-star to first-round, like you’re supposed to.
“And the well keeps getting deeper. Carnell Tate is already projected to be a first-round selection in the 2026 draft, and that’s before we start talking about Brandon Inniss and what has really become a wide receiver U in college football.”
Young also pointed out that Ohio State was traditionally a ground-heavy program until the past decade. He listed off two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Maurice Clarett, Beanie Wells, and Ezekiel Elliott.
“We can keep going, and then, all of a sudden, you start throwing the ball all around the yard,” Young said. “You know, Dwayne Haskins is a first-round pick. Justin Fields is a first-round pick. C.J. Stroud is a first-round pick. All guys that benefited from this wide receiver group.”
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