In just 6 days, Brian Hartline has gone from the new guy to the one calling the shots. With his defensive coordinator already hired, the former Ohio State OC is now looking to the Big 12 for his next big staff addition.

“Cincinnati assistant GM Carter Wilson is expected to be hired as the general manager at USF under new coach Brian Hartline, sources tell me, @ChadBrendel and @chris_hummer,” college football insider Matt Zenitz shared on X.

USF is bringing in Carter Wilson from the Cincinnati Bearcats to take over as their new general manager after GM Andrew Warsaw left with Alex Golesh to the Plains. It’s clear Hartline means business and is bringing in upcoming-top administration and football talent across the Power 4.

Wilson definitely knows his stuff. He’s been the assistant general manager at Cincinnati since 2023, running the show for personnel and recruiting. He was essentially the guy finding all the great players, and his work really paid off in the 2024 season.

Wilson had helped bring in linebacker Simeon Coleman and DB Jiquan Sanks, who actually started the season opener. Their first true freshman to do that at Cincinnati since 2015. The freshmen ended up playing a ton too. They racked up 921 snaps on offense and defense, more than any of the freshmen combined from 2020 to 2023.

Even Cincinnati GM Zach Grant had high praise for Wilson during National Signing Day. Under Wilson’s watch, the Bearcats signed 22 new players in December, focusing big on keeping the top local Ohio talent home. The biggest pickup during his run was four-star defensive lineman Lance Dawson.

Before he got to Cincinnati, Wilson spent time at Florida and Louisville, learning and getting better at the whole recruiting game. Bringing him to USF is basically Hartline’s second big move, right after locking in his G5 defensive coordinator.

Brian Hartline’s biggest bet

Brian Hartline made his first big move on Tuesday by hiring Josh Aldridge as his defensive coordinator. Aldridge, a 2008 Jackson Christian grad, was a straight-up standout back in the day. He helped his school win the 2006 Class 1A state title, the only football state championship any Jackson school has pulled off since the playoffs started in 1969.

Aldridge comes to USF after putting up a blockbuster defensive masterclass at East Carolina. In his one year there, he turned ECU’s defense into the best in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). His defense led the league in almost every major category, including total defense (348.8 yards), scoring defense (20.3 yards), red-zone defense, third-down stops, sacks, and tackles for loss.

They even finished top 15 in the country in some of these. Before ECU, Aldridge spent four years at Liberty, where he worked on the defensive side and eventually became co-defensive coordinator. He also coached the linebackers there. By the looks of the quality hire, USF is planning to run the conference next season.