Latest recruiting rankings update gives Penn State one more reason to hire Brian Hartline

Most of Penn State’s top options to replace James Franklin are already off the board. Curt Cignetti, Matt Rhule, and Mike Elko have all signed extensions to stay put, so unless Alabama loses the Iron Bowl and Crimson Tide fans run Kalen DeBoer out of Tuscaloosa, it may be tough to convince an experienced sitting head coach to come to Happy Valley. 

As Penn State’s search drags on, athletic director Pat Kraft may start to seriously consider handing the keys to his football program to a first-time head coach, and maybe he should. From Kirby Smart to Dan Lanning to Kenny Dillingham, many of the country’s best coaches went straight from being a coordinator. 

If Penn State considers that route, it will almost inevitably lead them to their biggest rivals in Columbus, and Ohio State's offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline. While he’s orchestrating one of the country’s most efficient offenses this season, Hartline isn’t known for his play-calling prowess. Instead, he profiles as an elite program builder because of his incredible track record as a recruiter, particularly at the wide receiver position. 

Still the Buckeyes’ wide receiver coach, Monday provided even more evidence for Hartline’s dominance on the recruiting trail. Rivals released a rankings update that bumped Ohio State wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. to the No. 1 spot at the position. 

Brian Hartline recruit, Chris Henry Jr., earns No. 1 ranking from Rivals

According to 247Sports Composite, Henry is still the No. 2 WR in the 2026 class, trailing Tennessee commit Tristen Keys. Still, with Henry at No. 2, this is the fourth consecutive recruiting class with Ohio State landing a top-five-ranked wide receiver in the country. Hartline has also landed the top composite wide receiver three times since 2020 (Julian Fleming, Emeka Egbuka, and Jeremiah Smith). 

Hiring Hartline wouldn’t just be in hopes of players like Henry, a 6-foot-5 five-star talent, following him to Happy Valley. It would be a bet on his recruiting abilities translating to the entire roster. 

James Franklin was a high-level recruiter, but if Hartline could raise the ceiling on Penn State’s talent acquisition, then potentially, he could end the program’s nine-year losing streak to Ohio State. 

With revenue-sharing and NIL now in place, it may not be the right time to hire the recruiter. If a program is willing to spend, it should be able to acquire enough talent to win, so with the margins as slim as ever, maybe a top-tier game manager or play-caller is the type of coach Penn State needs to get over the hump. But maybe Hartline could bring that too.