There are only a handful of offensive coordinators in college football who have made themselves viable as future head coaches. These OCs have built stronger reputations and résumés than some Power Four programs. Struggling, big-time schools view them as rare ‘unicorn’ prospects, like coaches who are more valuable than many head coaches when it comes to making a big hire. One of those unicorns is Ohio State’s first-year offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline. Word on the street is that Penn State is in awe of Hartline’s skills and might pull another “Jim Knowles” move on Ryan Day.

On October 27, Ohio State’s popular Scarlet and Gray Podcast took to Instagram and dropped some inside info about Penn State’s interest in Hartline: “According to Joe Smeltzer, Ohio State Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receiver Coach Brian Hartline is a candidate for the Penn State Head Coaching Job.” Honestly, why wouldn’t they go after one of the best recruiters of the last decade?

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Every program wants what Ryan Day has built. Last season, following their national title run, Day lost both of his play-callers: DC Jim Knowles to Penn State and OC Chip Kelly to the NFL (specifically, the Raiders). Penn State lured Knowles away with a record-breaking $3.1 million per season, and rumor has it they might try the same tactic with Hartline. Unfortunately, the Knowles hire didn’t pan out, and it allegedly played a role in James Franklin’s firing. That’s the risky part of this possible Hartline pursuit.

Things aren’t exactly smooth in Happy Valley either. The Nittany Lions haven’t won a game since Franklin’s departure, but rather than rushing to a decision, Penn State is taking its time. After all, the program has had just three head coaches since 1966. Even though Hartline has never been a head coach, people are starting to view him as the next big thing. Someone with Dan Lanning-level potential. “His name has come up enough in discussions with national-level industry sources… to warrant his addition as another name to monitor,” reported Tyler Donohue from 247Sports.

Hartline is currently in his first season calling plays and his third as at least a co-offensive coordinator. He’s spent most of his career coaching wide receivers at Ohio State. Starting as a quality control assistant in 2017, he quickly rose to wide receivers coach in 2018. Since then, he’s helped produce some of the best receivers in college football, and Penn State would love to bring some of that magic to Happy Valley.

Brian Hartline’s skills in recruiting and development

The amount of elite talent Brian Hartline has helped coach over the last eight years is ridiculous. Everything Hartline touches seems to turn into a first-round NFL weapon. Some of the top NFL players he’s coached include Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson.

All of them became first-round draft picks. They also make up the majority of young receivers who are balling out in the pros. His success makes him an appealing choice for any program looking for a strong offensive leader.

Although Hartline has interviewed for other head coaching jobs, like at West Virginia before they hired Rich Rodriguez, he has mostly stayed loyal to Ohio State. But if Penn State offers him the throne, that might be hard to turn down. This could be a big move for both him and the program.