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Texas A&M Football: 3 Under-the-Radar Candidates to Replace Jimbo Fisher

By Graham Harmon

Sep 11, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; General helmet view of the Texas A&M Aggies before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; General helmet view of the Texas A&M Aggies before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Could Brian Hartline be the guy for Texas A&M football?
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline monitors warm-ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. /

Under the radar name for Texas A&M football coaching search: Brian Hartline

Brian Hartline is a former Ohio State Buckeye who had a cup of coffee in the NFL before coming back to the college ranks as a coach somewhat quickly. He joined the Ohio State coaching staff in 2017 and has ascended the ranks quickly—from quality control assistant; to WR coach; to passing game coordinator; and now to offensive coordinator.

Hartline has a reputation for being one of the top recruiters in the nation, and has been trained up in the high-flying offensive style for which the Buckeyes have been known in recent years. At the same time, though, X’s and O’s may not be the top thing he brings to the table, and I could see him as more of a CEO-type coach. One thing is for sure, though: if Hartline got the job and was able to retain Elijah Robinson on his staff, the recruiting advantage those two would together wield would be approaching unfair.

This could be a viable path for the Aggies, were they to decide against going with an established head coach. The same questions remain for him as for someone like Schumann, though, as to whether he is ready to take on the responsibility of a head job—especially one in the SEC. There also might be a concern that all the coaching he has done in his career is in the state of Ohio, and he doesn’t have many ties to the SEC because of that—though, that hasn’t stopped him from pulling huge receivers out of Texas like Garrett Wilson and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. His inexperience is definitely a concern, but he is worth a look (as is the man he works for, though those odds might be significantly longer).