The Opening Drive 1/2: The Postseason Chaos Begins

The Buckeyes add a wide receivers coach and the transfer portal opens.

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 7: Co-Offensive Coordinator Cortez Hankton of the LSU Tigers speaks pregame against the Nicholls State Colonels at LSU Tiger Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images)

Happy New Year! It took Coach Ryan Day little time, following the loss to Miami, to announce the successor to Brian Hartline. On Thursday, the hiring of Cortez Hankton as the new wide receivers coach. The 44-year old Hankton comes to OSU after spending the last four seasons in Baton Rouge, at LSU. Prior to his time on the bayou, he spent four years at Georgia, where he coached George Pickens. Pickens is by far the highest rated recruit that he’s responsible for, but he has coached and developed many other talented receivers. Among the names he has developed are LSU receivers Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and Kayshon Boutte, and at UGA George Pickens and Mecole Hardman.

Personal opinion on the hire: it has the potential to be a home run. I think he’s a better developer than recruiter, at this point in his career. But, I think recruiting chops can be sharpened, and so long as the Buckeyes continue to have elite quarterback play that will always be a selling point for receivers. The fact that Hankton was not named offensive coordinator signals that there may still be more movement on the offensive staff.

---

LATEST PODCASTS:

• Post Game Therapy - Digesting the Cotton Bowl Loss

• Stopping Miami’s Offense, 2027 5-Star, and Big Transfer Portal Name

• Michigan Gets Their Man

LATEST FILM ROOMS:

• FILM ROOM: Several Ways Ohio State Can Attack Miami’s Vaunted Defense

• FILM ROOM: How to Contain the Miami Offense

LATEST ARTICLES:

• Opening Drive 1/1: Buckeyes See Season End Against Hurricanes

• Opening Drive 12/31: Revisiting ‘David Versus Goliath’ Ahead of Cotton Bowl

• Opening Drive 12/30: That is One Big 2027 “BOOM”

---

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Jelani Thurman #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball during the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

THE TRANSFER PORTAL OPENS:

The transfer portal officially opened for business at midnight, and the Buckeyes saw a lot of players declare their intentions to enter. At the time of this writing, there have only been two declarations that I would deem a surprise. Cornerback Bryce West and edge rusher CJ Hicks would be the two I’d label surprises. Hicks opted to take a redshirt this season, but stuck around the team. West saw action at points in the year, due to injuries, and was seemingly in line to compete for a starting role next season. I anticipate even more departures, but also anticipate OSU to be semi-aggressive with shopping in the portal.

Here is the current list of Buckeyes entering the transfer portal:

Bryson Rodgers (WR)

Jelani Thurman (TE)

Mason Maggs (QB)*

Lincoln Kienholtz (QB)

Bryce West (CB)

CJ Hicks (DE)

James Peoples (RB)

Sam Dixon (RB)

Dominic Kirks (DL)

Logan George (DE)

Damarion Witten (TE/WR)

Bukari Miles (DB)*

Diante Griffin (DB)*

* = walk on

Stay Tuned to Buckeye Film Breakdown for updates on all things transfer portal, coaching carousel, and everything else Buckeye related!

---

---

Buckeye Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content.