BREAKING: Buckeyes Hire Cortez Hankton As Wide Receivers Coach

The Buckeyes are wasting no time following the loss to Miami. The off-season has begun, and former LSU and Georgia assistant Cortez Hankton is set to step into a role with Ohio State as the wide receivers coach. Hankton will replace Brian Hartline, who left the team to become the next head coach at USF.

Hankton has years of experience both as a player and a coach. He played college football for Texas Southern, holding the program’s career receiving yards record with 3,400 yards. He was then signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hankton comes to Columbus after spending time with LSU in different roles. He most recently served as the team’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also held the title of passing game coordinator. He had been with the Tigers since 2022.

Before LSU, Hankton coached at Georgia from 2018 to 2021. Hankton has his name tied to many different NFL wide receivers, including George Pickens, Brian Thomas, Malik Nabers, and Kayshon Boutte. Hankton will be handed the task of sustaining Ohio State’s status as Wide Receiver University. Hartline will leave Hankton with talents such as Jeremiah Smith, Quincy Porter Jr, Chris Henry Jr, Mylan Graham, and more.

The off-season will be a big one for the Buckeyes as they look to make all the right moves in hopes of making it back to the big game in 2026. The Buckeyes now pivot their attention to the vacant offensive coordinator role. Brian Hartline had previously done the play calling in the regular season before Ryan Day took over for the playoffs. Day has had much success in the CEO role and will look to bring in an experienced play caller to lead the Buckeyes in 2026.