Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann are being viewed favorably as potential Brian Kelly replacements in Baton Rouge.
TigerBait's Preston Guy believes both would be strong candidates for LSU's head coaching vacancy, and would be hires in the vein of Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Bob Stoops, and Marcus Freeman.
"Two names mentioned on the show last night I didn’t hate at all for the job:
Glenn Schumann DC Georgia
Brian Hartline OC Ohio State
Bright up and coming coordinators can succeed when taking a step up to a major P5 job. We’ve seen it work out many times," Guy wrote.
"Kirby Smart, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Bob Stoops and Marcus Freeman all made the jump from coordinator to elite P5 head coach. Sure it can also go wrong, but this path does have a consistent track record of working out."
On3's Andy Staples recently tabbed Hartline as the perfect candidate for the Penn State Nittany Lions' head coaching job, vacated in October after James Franklin's firing, during an appearance on Pardon My Take. Staples even compared Hartline to Urban Meyer.
"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," Staples said.
It's not a coincidence the top two job openings believe Hartline is a good fit. Any school in the country would be lucky to bring on an elite receiver recruiter, but especially a school like LSU, who regularly recruits elite WRs anyway.
Day would have a tough time replacing Hartline, who turned out to be the best offensive coordinator hiring possible this past offseason. How Day does can determine how long Ohio State can stay on top.