Penn State was the first big-time program to fire its head coach. James Franklin was fired after a loss to Northwestern. The Ohio State football team gets to host Penn State this weekend with interim head coach Terry Smith leading the Nittany Lions.
There's no doubt that Penn State will take some big swings with its head coaching search. They will make every major candidate say no to them. A lot of them likely will, and that will leave them without a lot of guys who have major FBS coaching experience at the level Penn State is at.
Penn State fans seem to be clamoring for Brian Hartline, the offensive coordinator of the Ohio State Buckeyes. They seem to think he's the key to a lot of the Buckeyes' success, especially on the recruiting trail. A lot of them want him, and one CFB insider thinks it could happen.
Andy Staples believes Ohio State OC Brian Hartline is a viable candidate for the Penn State head coaching job
While speaking on Pardon My Take, On3's Andy Staples believes that Hartline could be a viable candidate for the Nittany Lions if they strike out with all of the big names they are chasing.
"What about Brian Hartline? Best receivers coach in the world. I'm not being hyperbolic. He's better than anyone else in college, and probably better than anyone else in the NFL. He's one of the best recruiters ever. If I said, 'Stud receivers coach who's his team's best recruiter, ' who am I talking about circa 2000? That would be Urban Meyer."
Comparing him to Meyer might be a bit much at this point, but the point still stands. If the Nittany Lions want to take a big swing, Hartline could be seen as that big swing. He is probably the best recruiter in the country and is clearly able to develop players, at least at the receiver position.
This job might be too big a job for him right away. He has no previous head coaching experience, and that's not something a lot of higher-ups in Penn State are willing to risk. It would certainly hurt the Buckeyes if they lost Hartline, which would be another incentive to hire him away.
Even if Hartline doesn't get a head coaching job in this cycle, he very well might next year. The Buckeyes are going to have to prepare for him to leave eventually.