The Penn State Nittany Lions saw their former head coach, James Franklin, find a new home with the Virginia Tech Hokies this week, but PSU hasn't found its next headman. And it makes sense, since their ideal candidate, Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, won't be available to hire until January.
Hartline is what the Nittany Lions need, as Victory Bell Rings' Josh Yourish writes: a program-builder with a proven track record in recruiting. Yourish believes Hartline's spectacular track record of proving that he can recruit the hell out of a receiving corps could translate to the entire depth chart in State College, Pennsylvania.
Yourish is also cautious, but optimistic, that Hartline could be Penn State's X's and O's answer as well.
"Hiring Hartline wouldn’t just be in hopes of players like (Chris Henry Jr.), a 6-foot-5 five-star talent, following him to Happy Valley. It would be a bet on his recruiting abilities translating to the entire roster," Yourish wrote.
"James Franklin was a high-level recruiter, but if Hartline could raise the ceiling on Penn State’s talent acquisition, then potentially, he could end the program’s nine-year losing streak to Ohio State.
"With revenue-sharing and NIL now in place, it may not be the right time to hire the recruiter. If a program is willing to spend, it should be able to acquire enough talent to win, so with the margins as slim as ever, maybe a top-tier game manager or play-caller is the type of coach Penn State needs to get over the hump. But maybe Hartline could bring that too."
Brian Hartline could earn Ohio State job with Penn State
Hartline likely feels responsible for much of Ohio State's success in the passing game over the better part of the last decade. While he's been loyal to Ryan Day, he also has a head coaching future if he wants it.
He probably wants it at OSU, as a former fourth-round pick from the Ohio State University. Obviously, with Day building a championship program, he'll have to wait.
Hartline could do that waiting as Day's offensive coordinator, or he can make himself a slam-dunk, can't-miss candidate by beating Day while leading the charge at Penn State.
It's a tough decision for the Plain Township, Ohio, product, but he has to do what's best for his career. Staying loyal and not reaching his full financial potential shouldn't hold him back from doing what's best for his career.
That's probably the Nittany Lions.