Lane Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss was tense before he took over at LSU. His exit was messy, with him reportedly threatening to take Ole Miss assistants along with him. Now, at LSU, he could be facing a similar situation, with one of his co-offensive coordinators drawing interest from Ryan Day and Ohio State.

On Dec. 17, Insider Matt Moscona shared that LSU’s wide receiver coach, Cortez Hankton, has interviewed for a position on the Ohio State Buckeyes staff. Hankton joined LSU in January 2022 as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, then was elevated to co-offensive coordinator in January 2024.

For Lane Kiffin, the timing couldn’t be worse. LSU’s offensive staff was already in a delicate balance after recent changes, and losing a co-offensive coordinator with deep recruiting ties would reopen a wound. Kiffin knows too well the ripple effects of staff turnover in the middle of roster building.

His tenure in Baton Rouge had a significant impact on the offense. During his first season as a co-offensive coordinator, the Tigers ranked second in the SEC and No. 7 nationally in passing offense, averaging 315.2 yards per game. Along with his offensive success, his knack for recruiting helped LSU land three consecutive top 10 high school classes.

Hankton’s value to LSU extends well beyond play-calling. He has been a consistent presence in high-level wide receiver recruitment, particularly in the Southeast, making him a key connector between the coaching staff and LSU’s talent pipeline, an area Kiffin has prioritized heavily since arriving in Baton Rouge.

Ohio State’s interest in Hankton also signals a willingness to look beyond its own coaching pipeline. While the Buckeyes have long developed offensive assistants internally, Hartline’s departure leaves Ryan Day needing both schematic continuity and recruiting credibility, two areas where Hankton’s SEC résumé stands out.

His development of the WR corps earned him laurels. Under his mentorship, WR Kyren Lacy (2024) earned the second-team All-SEC honors after leading the SEC in receiving touchdowns. He helped develop Malik Nabers (New York Giants) and Brian Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars) as first-round NFL picks.

Right now, we don’t know which position Cortez was interviewing for. However, given his coaching experience on the LSU staff and with Ryan Day searching for a new offensive coordinator, Cortez may be evaluated for the OC role. Even if the role is not labeled offensive coordinator, Ohio State has historically empowered position coaches with expanded responsibilities, making the interview itself a meaningful signal.

Behind OSU’s search for its new offensive coordinator

Winning comes at a price, and for head coach Ryan Day, it cost him his offensive coordinator. After leading Ohio State to a No. 2 seed in the playoffs, OC Brian Hartline became the new head coach at South Florida Bulls, bidding adieu to the Buckeyes. Now, Coach Day is looking for a new face on the offense, and that new hire might come straight from the Tigers

Along with handling his OC role, Brian Hartline was also responsible for developing the WR corps. Having developed Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Chris Olave, and other stars, Hartline made his impact on the OSU offense. Replacing him will be a significant challenge, but one that Coach Day is in no hurry to execute.

With championship expectations firmly in place, Ohio State can afford patience but not stagnation. Any transition on offense must preserve development timelines for young quarterbacks and receivers, making experienced, adaptable candidates like Hankton especially appealing during the postseason window.

Top Stories

Footage Surfaces of Puka Nacua’s Brother Samson Slapping Fan After Arrest for Allegedly Stealing Lakers’ Adou Thiero’s SUV

Footage Surfaces of Florida Police Arresting NASCAR Veteran Over Disturbing Public Misbehavior

Browns & Kevin Stefanski Sign Ousted Cowboys Player For Shedeur Sanders Before Week 16 Bills Game

“RIP”: Prayers Pour In as Tom Brady’s Raiders Struck by Tragedy

“Rest in Peace”: Prayers Pour In From Dan Marino as Dolphins Legend Mourns Tragedy in South Florida Football

“What Do You Come Back For?”: Tony Gonzalez’s Strong Retirement Message to Travis Kelce Amid Chiefs’ Rebuild

The defending national champion boasts a stacked roster, packed with NFL potential. Naturally, the vacancy would be drawing in too much attention.

“I think we would all agree right now that Coach Day probably has about 50 missed phone calls from every wide receivers coach in the country who would love to come join here,” OSU general manager Mark Pantoni shared on Dec. 3. “Obviously, Coach Day’s going to go out and get the best person possible.”

With that, OSU is working to find a face for its offense, and Cortez Hankton’s reported interview marks the first step in that process.

Undoubtedly, Ryan Day lost one of his prized assistants, but it wasn’t a bitter farewell. Delighted over Hartline’s success, the head coach wished him the best for his future endeavors.

“As a head coach, it’s great to see one of your assistants get one of these opportunities,” he said. “I think he’s going to do great.”

For Lane Kiffin, Ohio State’s move represents more than just outside interest; it’s a reminder of how quickly stability can be tested at the highest level. Whether Hankton ultimately leaves or stays, the Buckeyes’ early outreach has already introduced uncertainty into LSU’s offensive structure. And for a coach who has lived through staff upheaval before, that alone qualifies as bad news.