Ryan Day, Ohio State promote Brian Hartline to passing game coordinator

Ohio State made a big move on Sunday, announcing the promotion of wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to passing game coordinator. The program’s release praised Hartline for his work both on the field and in recruiting over the past four years.

“Hartline has been a rising star among college coaches since becoming a full-time staff member in 2018 after one season as an offensive analyst,” the release reads. “He was a standout receiver for Ohio State from 2005-08, graduated in 2009 and spent seven seasons in the National Football League, six of them with the Miami Dolphins and one as a Cleveland Brown. He played in 104 NFL games with 73 starts and produced 344 career receptions for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns.”

“Brian is a dedicated Ohio State Buckeye,” Day said. “He is the top wide receiver’s coach in college football and he has continued to develop as an offensive coach to the point where we want him to have more of an impact on our offensive game plan. His taking over as passing game coordinator will allow for that.”

Brian Hartline rising fast

Hartline earned FootballScoop’s wide receivers coach of the year award last week. In 2019, he made the American Football Coaches Association’s 35 Under 35 list.

Hartline’s wide receiver’s unit was one of the best in the nation this season with three All-Americans. Senior Chris Olave and junior Garrett Wilson were each first-team All-Americans. Both declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba earned second-team All-American.

Smith-Njigba set the Ohio State game and single-season records for receptions (15 vs. Nebraska and Utah; and 96 for the season) and receiving yards (an all-time bowl record 347 yards vs. Utah and 1,606 for the season). Olave set the Ohio State career record with 35 touchdown receptions and capped his career with 65 for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wilson had 70 catches this season for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ohio State parts ways with OL coach

Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa will not return to the program, according to On3’s Austin Ward. He spent six seasons with the Buckeyes, coaching a group that included future NFL players Josh Myers, Pat Elflein, and Billy Price, amongst others.

In addition to eight NFL draft picks, he helped develop one of college football’s most talented offensive lines in 2021, with Nicholas Petit-Frere and Thayer Munford among the top potential NFL prospects in 2022.

Greg Studrawa had previously dealt with health issues that required back surgery earlier in Ohio State’s season. It was thought that he might elect to retire following the win last weekend over Utah, per Ward. Ohio State has not publicly confirmed the exact details of the parting, but one way or another it is happening.

On3’s James Fletcher contributed to this report.