Syracuse head coach Fran Brown joined local radio station WTLA-AM on Wednesday and addressed the transfer news of his star wide receiver Trebor Pena. Pena produced 84 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns last year, but it appears Brown believes Pena's asking price is too high.
While discussing the current NIL landscape, Brown singled out Ohio State’s wide receivers and their value. It seems implied that he was speaking about Jeremiah Smith as the benchmark for elite wide receivers, insinuating that only someone of Smith’s caliber could command a $2 million valuation in college football. Signifying what many Ohio State fans already know, that Ohio State’s wide receiver unit, coached by Brian Hartline, is the envy of college football.
"You gonna make $2 million at wide receiver? That’s the homie at Ohio State. Ain’t nobody else making that money. I’m not giving no wide receiver $2 million in college."Fran Brown, Syracuse Head Football Coach
There is no doubt that under Hartline’s guidance, Ohio State has established itself as "Wide Receiver U," not only for producing NFL-ready talent year after year, but also for recruiting and developing arguably the top wide receiver room in the nation every year since 2019.
With freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith now entering his sophomore year, that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. Smith is the consensus best player in college football entering the 2025 season. His performance last season, not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs, has obviously caught Brown’s attention and is a summary of how others in college football view Ohio State's gold standard wide receiver room.
While many will attempt to discredit Ohio State's wide receivers by just calling them 5-stars they pay top dollar for, Hartline’s history of development through attention to detail and innovative route-running techniques has transformed raw talent like former four-star Marvin Harrison Jr., three-star Chris Olave, and walk-on Xavier Johnson into polished professionals.
His ability to recruit top prospects isn't the only reason for Ohio State's success. Combine his recruiting with his track record of developing first-round draft picks, and the Buckeyes’ wide receiver room is a dream destination for aspiring stars.
Brown’s comments highlight a broader truth: Ohio State’s wide receivers are the standard other teams are chasing. While others face the challenges of the NIL era and player valuations, the Buckeyes continue to have one of the best cultures in college football and churn out game-changers who redefine their positions.
Ohio State’s success under Hartline serves as just one more reminder of the gap between the elite and everyone else in college football’s competitive landscape.