COLUMBUS, Ohio -- You know the question has come up as prospective recruits look across the table at an up-and-coming assistant coach with a background like Brian Hartline’s.

Surely Ohio State football’s second-year wide receivers coach will eventually want to further his career and make the jump from position to coach to something with more responsibility, prestige and compensation.

Hartline, however, enjoyed an abundance of those last two enticements while playing wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns. When asked how he addresses the topic of his future with recruits, Hartline spoke of his family’s roots in Columbus, the connection he feels as an alum and the fulfillment he gets from coaching receivers.

“It’s really early — I don’t want to sound ignorant to the fact — but I don’t know what would get me out of the city, frankly, and unless I’m just not good,” Hartline said to reporters at a press conference for the first day of the early signing period.

“Currently I have no desire to go there, go here. I love being here. I love talking to you guys and it’s very natural and easy to shoot it from the heart, so I prefer to live in that world. I’ll be here as long as hopefully they’ll have me.”

The question came as Hartline discussed what on paper is the best class of receiving talent any program signed for 2020. With Michael Thomas established as the best receiver in the NFL, rookies Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell making early marks and some young Buckeyes poised for big things, Columbus could become a destination for receiving talent to a greater degree than ever before.

Could Hartline become what veteran assistant Larry Johnson is to Buckeye defensive ends — a national presence with a reputation for closing on the recruiting trail and developing elite performers?

Based on the 247 Sports national composite rankings, Ohio State landed two of the top five receivers and four of the top 15. Only Georgia, which pulled in receivers ranked seventh, eighth and 15th, will finish with a similar haul.

Hartline went into central Pennsylvania to sign Julian Fleming, the nation’s top-ranked receiver. He went to Texas for Jackson Smith-Njigba, who found time to talk to him when he wasn’t piling up about a billion yards for his high school team. Hartline went all the way to Washington state for Gee Scott Jr., and to Missouri for the slot receiver of the future, Mookie Cooper.

For at least the 2020 recruiting cycle, Ohio State was the primary destination for the nation’s best receiving talent.

“This is probably the strongest class I’ve seen in a long time,” head coach Ryan Day said of the four incoming receivers. “I think that had something to do with being about to sign two quarterbacks in this class was knowing they’re coming in with really good receivers.”

Hartline deflected some of the credit to player personnel guru Mark Pantoni, and Keenan Bailey, quality control coach for receivers. Hartline bristles at the word “recruiter.” Fair enough, but he also possesses traits that could make him a recognized personality for his position group the way Johnson is for his.

Hartline is young, having turned 33 in November, and can relate to players with a different energy. He can talk about helping players reach their professional goals as someone who spent seven years in the NFL and produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

He may also increasingly be able to tout the results of the Buckeyes who came through under his tutelage. Campbell and McLaurin were well into their careers before Hartline took over the wide receiver room. But Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams have either already shown growth under Hartline’s tutelage or are poised to potentially do so in bigger roles next season.

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None of this is meant to predict the Class of 2020 recruiting haul to repeat every year — at least in sheer numbers. Roster dynamics may not allow it. Ohio State also does not sign the top-rated defensive end in every single class. But it landed both of the Bosa brothers, and Chase Young, and Zach Harrison.

The No. 3 player in the 2021 class is Jack Sawyer, a defensive end recruit from Pickerington North. He has been committed to the Buckeye since February.

Could Julian Fleming and Jackson Smith-Njigba kick off a similar run for the Buckeyes?

Hartline says he’s putting down roots in hopes of finding out.

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