Christian Hackenberg: Penn State “Has to Make a Mad Press” for Brian Hartline
Former Penn State Football quarterback Christian Hackenberg recently added serious fuel to the coaching-search fire last week when he suggested that Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline may have just given his best pitch yet, on the field, against the Nittany Lions themselves.
Hackenberg called Ohio State coordinator’s performance against Penn State an “in-person interview” for the Penn State head coaching job.
During an episode on StateMedia, Hackenberg directly referenced Ohio State’s 38-14 drubbing of Penn State, calling Hartline’s offensive performance a de facto job interview for the vacant Penn State head-coaching position.
“I thought Brian Hartline did as good a job as you can do for an in-person interview,” Hackenberg said, clearly implying that the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator made his case to be the next man in charge in Happy Valley.
Hackenberg then doubled down, saying the Nittany Lions shouldn’t waste time if they’re serious about Hartline as a candidate.
“The way things are shaking out, you’ve got to make a mad press for Hartline here in the next few weeks,” he added.
The Case for Brian Hartline as Penn State’s Next Head Coach
Wide Receiver U
The comments come as Penn State’s search, led by athletic director Pat Kraft, enters a pivotal stretch following James Franklin’s firing.
Hartline, 37, has been one of college football’s hottest rising names in recent years.
A former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver, he’s built the Buckeyes’ receiver room into a “who’s who” of wideout royalty, developing first-round talents like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. He’s also the developer behind Tampa Bay’s 2025 first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, who’s already producing for the Buccaneers and earned September’s Offensive Rookie of the Month, along with his current star pupil Jeremiah Smith, who’s putting up top-10 national receiving numbers this fall.
Saturday’s performance only strengthened that résumé.
Under Hartline’s play-calling, the Buckeyes’ offense sliced through Penn State’s defense with surgical efficiency, averaging 15.2 yards per completion, 7 yards per snap, as freshman quarterback Julian Sayin completed 20 of 23 passes for four touchdowns against one of the nation’s best defensive units.
Why Brian Hartline Stands Out
Hartline is a recruiting rock star, consistently securing top-tier talent, and consistently ranking among the nation’s elite recruiters year in and year out..
He’s also an offensive innovator.
Under Hartline’ s direction, as co-offensive coordinator with Chip Kelly, Ohio State’s offense surged to No. 1 nationally in 2024, blending explosive plays with disciplined execution.
The former Miami Dolphins wide receiver’s pipeline is active on both ends, producing NFL first-rounders, Hartline’s pipeline is active on both ends, producing NFL wideouts who he can watch play in Sunday’s, while still molding current stars like Jeremiah Smith, who is currently among the nation’s leaders in yards and touchdowns for the Buckeyes, but will soon also be playing on Sunday’s.
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Hartline Comes Highly Recommended
A former player in Columbus, has the backing of the legendary Urban Meyer.
The two-time national champion has publicly said Hartline is “ready” for a head-coaching role, citing his growth under current Buckeye head coach Ryan Day.
As Penn State eyes a late-December hiring timeline, Hartline’s blend of recruiting acumen, offensive creativity, and leadership presence makes him a compelling candidate.
Hackenberg’s comments only amplified that momentum — framing last Saturday’s game not just as another Ohio State win, but as an audition Penn State couldn’t ignore.
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It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
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