Ohio State Football: Receivers made great strides under Brian Hartline

When it was announced that Ryan Day would be the next Ohio State football coach, one assistant who was assured he would be back was Brian Hartline.

With the situation surrounding the Ohio State football program prior to the season the Buckeyes were left without a receivers coach. No problem there, Brian Hartline would fill in on an interim basis and take the receiving corps to the next level.

It was no surprise when it was announced he would be retained as an assistant coach for next season soon after Ryan Day was named head coach. A look at the numbers his top six receivers totaled compared to those during the 2017 season will explain why.

Parris Campbell: 79 receptions, 992 yards (12.6 yards per catch) 11 touchdowns

2017: 40 receptions, 584 yards (14. 6 yards per catch) 3 touchdowns

K..J. Hill: 67 receptions, 831 yards (12.4 yards per catch) 6 touchdowns

2017: 56 receptions, 549 yards (9.8 yards per catch) 3 touchdowns

Johnnie Dixon: 40 receptions, 642 yards (16.1 yards per catch) 7 touchdowns

2017: 18 receptions, 422 yards (23.4 yards per catch) 8 touchdowns

Terry McLaurin: 34 receptions, 669 yards (19.7 yards per catch) 7 touchdowns

2017: 29 receptions, 436 yards (15 yards per catch) 6 touchdowns

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Austin Mack: 26 receptions, 331 yards (12.7 yards per catch) 1 touchdown

2017: 24 receptions, 343 yards (14.3 yards per catch) 2 touchdowns

Binjimen Victor: 19 receptions, 320 yards (16.8 yards per catch) 4 touchdowns

2017: 23 receptions, 349 yards (15.2 yards per catch) 7 touchdowns

All of the receivers improved in some category and most improved in an area they were weak in before. Johnnie Dixon was just a deep threat last year but was also a go to guy this season on third down. Terry McLaurin finally became the deep threat most of us thought he could be.

It’s obvious coach Hartline shared the tricks of the trade he learned from his many years in the NFL to his players.

While Dwayne Haskins had a season for the ages throwing the football, that wouldn’t have happened if receivers didn’t get separation from defenders and then catch the ball when it was on the money. This year’s receiving corps certainly did that.

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I wrote that Brian Hartline was the right guy at the right time when he was named the receivers coach on an interim basis. I am even more convinced now he is the right man for the job.

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