WR Coach Cortez Hankton (Official Thread)

[RugbyBuck]

Of course

We will miss Hartline. You are crazy.

How do you get that I don't think we'll miss Hartline from my post? Of course we will and I was pushing him for HC-in-waiting all year. The facts are, though: that he didn't rotate players in and you can only develop so much without playing; seasons are longer with more chance of injuries in the CFP scenario and with him this year we had receivers trying to learn on the job out of necessity rather than having been brought along so that they've seen the field when/if you need them; and he's gone and there's nothing crazy about hoping that Cortez might have a different sense of development than The Hartline Method.

 

[RuGettinIt]

I feel like the lack of player rotation isn’t just a Hartline thing but a general philosophy of Day. He’s seemingly never been big on getting guys in. Slowing the offense down killed opportunities for players to get time in.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Can Cortez Hankton keep the WRU tradition alive at Ohio State?

Cortez Hankton arrives in Columbus with a proven NFL development track record and a loaded receiver room, tasked with preserving the WRU standard Brian Hartline built at Ohio State.

www.landgrantholyland.com

Can Cortez Hankton keep the WRU tradition alive at Ohio State?​

Cortez Hankton arrives in Columbus with a proven NFL development track record and a loaded receiver room, tasked with preserving the WRU standard Brian Hartline built at Ohio State.

Ohio State’s wide receiver room has long been one of the most prolific pipelines in college football. It is a position group that not only feeds explosive offensive production, but consistently produces NFL talent.

That standard was most recently embodied and lived by Brian Hartline, who coached elite receivers such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith before departing to become head coach at South Florida.

In the wake of that transition, Ohio State has turned to Cortez Hankton to take over as wide receivers coach, hoping his resume and experience can sustain and even elevate the program’s “Wide Receiver U” identity.

Hankton comes to Columbus after four seasons on LSU’s staff, most recently serving as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. There, the Tigers ranked among the top two in the SEC in passing offense twice, with LSU’s aerial attack finishing No. 1 in 2023 and No. 2 in 2024 under his guidance.

He coached and developed some of the SEC’s premier playmakers, including Kyren Lacy, who led the league in touchdown receptions in 2024, and helped develop talent that translated to the NFL, such as Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

A proven developer of wide receivers​

Hankton’s reputation as a receiver developer is well established. Before LSU, he spent four seasons at Georgia, contributing to a national championship-level passing game and coaching future NFL receivers such as George Pickens and Mecole Hardman. He also coached at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth earlier in his career, giving him a wide range of experience with different offensive systems and receiver talent levels.

His resume is notable not just for volume of experience, but for consistent production of NFL talent and elite collegiate receivers, a key part of Ohio State’s identity. The Buckeyes’ WRU tradition wasn’t built entirely by Hartline, but he became one of its most prominent architects, overseeing a receiver room that produced first-round picks and All-Americans year after year.

Hankton arrives with similar credentials and a track record of helping receivers transition from college standouts to NFL players, which also fits Ohio State’s standards.

A loaded receiver room set to sustain the standard​

The timing of the hire gives Hankton key assets to work with immediately.

Jeremiah Smith is expected back for the 2026 season, coming off back to back seasons establishing himself as one of the nation’s premier receivers. A highly regarded freshman in Chris Henry Jr. and other talented players such as Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter, and Brandon Innis give
Hankton a strong base of proven and promising talent.

With that mix of experience and youth, Ohio State’s receiving corps remains deeper than almost all in the country.
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[Bestbuck36]

Re: Cortez Hankton is an upgrade over Brian Hartline.

Just sayin': A likely home run hire YES; but, even though I seriously hope he is, I doubt that he is an upgrade over Hartline.

The internet even allows dipshits like me to post on sites so take all of that with a humongous grain of salt!

 

[lvbuckeye]

He also had some sour grapes over Hartline and his WR rotations

Say what you want about his personal life and dildoes, but Zach did a pretty damn good job with Zone 6. Some people seem to forget that Urban called the WR room a bunch of "chucklefucks" when he first got on campus. Zach sent a bunch of dudes to the league.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Say what you want about his personal life and dildoes, but Zach did a pretty damn good job with Zone 6. Some people seem to forget that Urban called the WR room a bunch of "chucklefucks" when he first got on campus. Zach sent a bunch of dudes to the league.

I think it was 'clown show' in public, but dollars to donuts, 'chucklefucks' was used behind closed doors.

 

[RugbyBuck]

He was right on both counts.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

Say what you want about his personal life and dildoes, but Zach did a pretty damn good job with Zone 6. Some people seem to forget that Urban called the WR room a bunch of "chucklefucks" when he first got on campus. Zach sent a bunch of dudes to the league.

He did great. Brown, Smith, Marshall, Thomas, Spencer, Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, Braxton for a year, Dixon, Hill, Olave, Campbell, Victor, Williams and even landed Wilson before he left.

Sure he didn’t land Marvin, JSN, Smith, and Emeka but yeah I think Zach Smith deserves having named the group zone 6. Very underrated group and honestly we can win it all with the kinds of kids Smith brought in. It might even be the better thing to do instead of having 1 mega star.

 

[Thump]

He did great. Brown, Smith, Marshall, Thomas, Spencer, Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, Braxton for a year, Dixon, Hill, Olave, Campbell, Victor, Williams and even landed Wilson before he left.

Sure he didn’t land Marvin, JSN, Smith, and Emeka but yeah I think Zach Smith deserves having named the group zone 6. Very underrated group and honestly we can win it all with the kinds of kids Smith brought in. It might even be the better thing to do instead of having 1 mega star.

Sunshine-pump much?

Is this the “The Diag?”

 

[osuvictory1]

I queried Grok:

The Good About Cortez Hankton as Wide Receivers Coach

Cortez Hankton has a strong track record of developing NFL-caliber talent and contributing to successful offenses in the SEC. Key positives include:

Player Development and NFL Pipeline: He coached multiple receivers who became high NFL draft picks. At LSU (2022-2025), he developed Malik Nabers (No. 6 overall, 2024 draft) and Brian Thomas Jr. (No. 23 overall, 2024 draft), who combined for over 2,700 yards and 31 TDs in 2023. Both had immediate NFL success with 1,000-yard rookie seasons. At Georgia (2018-2021), he worked with George Pickens (2nd-round pick), Ladd McConkey, Mecole Hardman (2nd round), and Riley Ridley (4th round). Overall, he sent at least seven receivers to the NFL from Georgia and LSU. He earned the 2023 FootballScoop Wide Receivers Coach of the Year award for his work with Nabers and Thomas.

Offensive Contributions: As passing game coordinator and later co-OC at LSU, he helped drive high-powered offenses, including the nation's No. 3 passing attack in 2023 (338.9 ypg) and top SEC rankings in multiple years. LSU had historic offensive outputs in 2022-2023 under his influence. At Georgia, he contributed to a 2021 national championship team.

Recruiting Involvement: He played a key role in LSU landing three consecutive Top 10 recruiting classes and the No. 1 transfer portal class in one cycle. As a New Orleans native and former NFL player, he connects well with recruits in Louisiana and the South.

Player Relations and Experience: Often described as a strong "players' coach" with relatability from his own NFL career (2003-2008, primarily with Jacksonville Jaguars). Official bios and announcements (e.g., Ohio State's hire) praise his experience developing elite talent.

The Bad About Cortez Hankton as Wide Receivers Coach

Criticism largely comes from fan forums (e.g., Reddit, TigerDroppings) and recent performance dips, viewing him as solid but not elite in certain areas:

Inconsistent Development Beyond Top Talent → Many fans note that while he inherited and polished stars like Nabers and Thomas (recruited before his arrival), other receivers regressed or underperformed. At LSU in 2024-2025, issues included dropped passes, poor route running, sloppy blocking, and lack of separation. Transfers like Barion Brown and Nic Anderson struggled after arriving as productive players elsewhere. Some receivers (e.g., Chris Hilton Jr., Kyren Lacy) showed regression or inconsistency.
Perceived Downgrade in Technique and Fundamentals → Complaints about "brick hands," drifting routes, and overall room sloppiness in later LSU years, contributing to passing struggles (e.g., dropping to 63rd nationally in 2025 passing yards). Similar sentiments from Georgia fans: Development slowed after initial successes, with the NFL pipeline tapering.

Recruiting as Primary Closer Limited → While involved in strong classes, he was primary recruiter for only one composite five-star WR (George Pickens) across eight years at Georgia/LSU. Top talents like Nabers/Thomas were prior recruits.

Context of Criticism → Much backlash surfaced in 2025 amid LSU's offensive struggles and coaching changes (Brian Kelly's dismissal, Lane Kiffin hire). Seen as a "decent recruiter and players' coach" but "not a great developer" by some, especially compared to elites like Brian Hartline (whom he replaced at Ohio State in 2026).

Overall, Hankton is widely respected for NFL talent production and recruiting contributions in powerhouse programs, earning him the Ohio State job. Criticisms focus on inconsistency in developing depth and fundamentals during tougher seasons, often from passionate fan bases. Sources cross-checked include official bios (LSU, Georgia, Ohio State), NFL draft records, awards, and balanced fan/media discussions—no major scandals or universal negatives found beyond performance debates.