LSU set to hire Georgia assistant as wide receivers coach

Brian Kelly is making another addition to his new staff with the LSU Tigers. According to On3’s Matt Zenitz, LSU is set to hire Georgia’s Cortez Hankton, and he will be the Tigers’ new wide receivers coach.

Hankton, a former NFL wide receiver, has plenty of experience as a wide receiver coach in college football. In 2012, he began his coaching career as Dartmouth’s wide receivers coach, a position he held through 2014. Then, he spent 2015-2017 in the same position at Vanderbilt. In 2018, Georgia hired Hankton to the same role, adding pass game coordinator to his role in 2019. Now, he will remain in the SEC and work on the revamped LSU coaching staff fresh off of a national championship with the Bulldogs.

Hankton played college football at Texas Southern, where he had a successful career. He holds Texas Southern records with 3,400 career receiving yards, 1,270 receiving yards in a single season, and ten consecutive games with a touchdown.

Following his collegiate career, Hankton joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He spent four years in Jacksonville, playing in 46 games with one start. In his four-year NFL career, Hankton had 34 receptions on 67 targets for 310 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He then spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007 and 2008 before heading to the United Football League.

With the UFL’s Florida Tuskers, Hankton was a nominee for the Offensive Player of the Year award. Following the 2011 season, Hankton began his coaching career.

Hankton has coached plenty of talent while at Georgia, which will be valuable at LSU

Hankton has coached plenty of NFL receivers while with the Georgia Bulldogs. He has led Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley, and Terry Godwin, all of which were selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Hankton’s experience coaching NFL caliber wide receivers will be valuable as he takes over at LSU. The Tigers have been known for consistently producing some of the NFL’s top pass catchers. Two of the NFL’s best wide receivers – Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase – both played at LSU. Odell Beckham Jr., DJ Chark, Jarvis Landry, Terrace Marshall Jr., and Russell Gage are among the other former Tigers receivers currently playing in the pros.

LSU went 6-7 last season in a year that saw a plethora of injuries and other absences. With Brian Kelly now in Baton Rouge, he is looking to fill out a talented staff that is ready to return LSU to the next level. LSU will be hoping that Hankton can help get the LSU offense back on track.