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Jeremiah Smith reacts to Brian Hartline leaving Ohio State, accepting USF job

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh15 hours agogriffin_mcveigh

Ohio State is going to lose one of the top assistant coaches in college football. Long-time wide receivers coach Brian Hartline is taking the open USF job, replacing Alex Golesh. Hartline was recently promoted to offensive coordinator and is expected to continue with the Buckeyes through the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff.

Reactions have begun to pour in on the news, including from Ohio State players. Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith took to Twitter/X, posting a picture of the two on the practice field. There appears to be no lost love over Hartline’s decision.

Smith is one of the many, many elite recruits Hartline brought to Columbus. His reputation on the recruiting trail was second to none, continually landing some of the best players in the country. Hartline then delivered on the development aspect, putting countless Ohio State wide receivers into the NFL.

And, eventually, Smith will join them. One more year of school is required of the former Five-Star Plus+ and No. 1 overall prospect before declaring for the 2027 NFL Draft. Many would say Smith has a chance to be the best of the bunch, something that includes Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson.

Through 27 games where he has worked with Hartline, Smith has caught 148 passes for 2,257 yards and 26 touchdowns. We will see the combination for at least two more games, beginning Saturday in the Big Ten title game. If Ohio State has its way, there are four contests en route to the national championship.

More on Brian Hartline, time with Ohio State

While Brian Hartline’s rise in the coaching ranks has been rapid — he first became a full-time assistant in 2019 — it has been deserved, according to those closest to him. Like Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

“Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,” Day said in Hartline’s Ohio State biography. “He has progressed incredibly well from college to NFL receiver, and then from quality control coach to wide receivers coach and now to his roles as a coordinator. He has also developed his receivers at an unprecedented level and he has recruited as well or better than anyone in the country.”

Brian Hartline, who has not yet hit 40 years old, was named On3’s National Wide Receivers Coach of the Year in 2022. He has been named to similar lists as a recruiter, as well.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report