With several coaching openings in college football, don't be surprised if a number of programs look to the defending National Champions
The Ohio State Buckeyes are in danger of losing their most dangerous weapon, and it’s not a player.
Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline is rumored to be in the running for several head coaching jobs in college football, and with several openings already this season, one of those positions could very well be his.
But the one program that may be on the hunt is the program that Ohio State will play this upcoming week.
Penn State.
It’s no secret that Athletic Director Pat Kraft has been aggressively looking for the perfect candidate as his new coach. But likely, that decision won’t come to fruition until the season’s conclusion.
Ohio State has one goal, and that’s to complete a repeat of a National Championship. Yet, once that goal is either completed or out of reach, the next step is to figure out what to do with Ryan Day’s OC.
In a perfect world, in order for the Canton-native Hartline to assume a head coaching role, it would be with Ohio State; the same program that he played three seasons with and helped lead to a National Championship appearance.
Barring a generational disaster, there’s just no way that Day isn’t the coach for next season though. For years, he was ridiculed, but after securing the National Championship last season, it’s safe to say his job is safe for quite a while.
However, it will be tough replacing a guy like Hartline whenever the time comes that he accepts a head coaching job – and we’re not just talking about a guy who can call plays at a high level, but a guy who’s one of the best recruiters in college football.
Among names of players he brought into Columbus are wide receivers such as Emeka Egbuka, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but he also recruited quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive lineman J.T. Tuimoloau among others.
As valuable as Hartline has been to the program, Day has said that as much as they want to retain coaches, he wants his coaches to receive opportunities.
Day already lost his coordinators Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles from the Buckeyes’ National Championship last season, so replacing Hartline to call plays won’t be difficult. It will be the way he builds the program.
And he just may get a close look at a potential suitor on Saturday.