Brian Hartline Takes on the NFL Combine
While many fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes may still be a bit baffled that junior wide receiver Brian Hartline left Columbus to head to the NFL, that has not stopped him from controlling his destiny. While his teammates Malcolm Jenkins, James Laurinaitis and Brian Robiskie are all looking at first-day draft selections, many scouts within the league think that Hartline will be looking at a fifth-round selection at best.
There is a strong feeling among Buckeye faithful that Hartline would not have been able to better his stock next season as the offense will funnel more through quarterback Terrelle Pryor and less through the deep passing game as it had for many years. Thus, Hartline is doing the most with what he can by showing up at the NFL combine. It is at the combine where the wide receiver can control the controlable – jump as high as he can, run as quickly as he can. No teammates are needed.
So how did he do?
The answer: Not too bad, actually. And if you read this with a tone of surprise, I would not blame you.
The ever-popular 40-yard dash time was clocked at 4.52. Three one-hundredths of a second behind Robiskie. In line with Jekins. But his finish in the other drills may surprise you even more.
Hartline finished tops among all wide receivers with a 10.92 in the 60-yard shuttle. In the three cone drill, he finished second among his position with a time of 6.65, while taking home fourth place in the 20-yard shuttle (4.12). Robiskie was fifth and eighth respectively, while not having an official time in the 60-yard shuttle. For comparison purposes, Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno clocked in at 11.63.
Being just a hair over 6′2″, and weighing 195 pounds, it appears that Hartline is hoping to be the next Wes Welker.
”I think that’s probably a main asset if you’re going to draft myself,” he said. ”There’s probably not a ton of slot receivers you can think of off the top of your head. I’m sure there’s some desire out there for a certain guy, whether it’s me or somebody else.”
I won’t delve in to the fact Hartline essentially said that he could be a team’s target, unless they’re targeting someone else. However, what he does have going for him is the fact that the majority of fans are counting him out as a professional football player. He’ll need to build off of these strong performances at the combine and look to continue his progression at Ohio State’s pro day in a few weeks.
In no way do I think that Brian Hartline will sneak into the first day of the NFL draft. In fact, I’m a firm believer that he should have transferred somewhere in order to use his final year of eligibility to boost his stock. But if given the chance with the right team, I do think that he could wind up surprising a lot of us at some point down the road. It will just a matter of finding the right formula.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Good for him. I don’t begrudge anybody for coming our early to the NFL draft when one blown knee changes your career. It’s all business all the time…. so if he thinks he can do it then great for him.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Good to hear BH ran a 4.52-with his size he’s gonna get a shot for somebody. I’d love to nab him if he’s available in the 5th round-he’s gonna do a nice job in the slot for somebody.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
In other news, Dane Sanzenbacher has committed himself to getting lit up like a Christmas tree for the 2009 Buckeyes.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I think Hartline is going to be solid as a third receiver in the NFL. He doesn’t need to be Randy Moss to have a successful NFL career. In fact, he doesn’t even have to be Wes Welker, per se.
And trust me when I say this isn’t me overrating him because he is an Ohio State guy, but I am pretty sure he would have been better than Steptoe last year for the Browns. On top of that, Hartline was a decent option for Ohio State on special teams. If he can land on a roster and prove his worth there in addition to gaining NFL experience as a receiver, he could have a really nice career.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
“I’d love to nab him if he’s available in the 5th round-he’s gonna do a nice job in the slot for somebody.”
Well, that somebody will be somebody else if he’s taken in the fifth. We traded our fifth-rounder this year to the Eagles in the Paul Hubbard deal last season.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Scott-ouch, Paul Hubbard for this year’s 5th is shameful. If you trade a pick for a player, that player BETTER make the team and contribute.
Heck……former Buckeye Roy Hall (from my High School and College Alma Maters was a 5th round pick of Indy and is still on their roster.
I’m with Craig-I get the feeling that Hartline will have a fine NFL career and make some team happy with a great day 2 pick.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Does anyone know his graduation status? It’s obvious the main reason he decided to come out was because he didn’t think he could improve his draft status in the current offense, but I thought maybe he was set to graduate soon.
Maybe I’m being naive about the term “student athlete” (OSU student athlete to be exact) but if he’s ready to graduate and he probably won’t improve his stock, what else is there?
He did redshirt his first year so this would be his fourth academic year.
February 24th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
He is graduating in May.
Also I’m not surprised by his showing at the combine, he was a heck of an athlete in high school, going to the state meet in track I believe every year and winning at least once in hurdles if not more. Kid’s got skills and will make an NFL roster as a special teams player if nothing else. He could be the next Cribbs of the special teams!
In fact I don’t know why he wasn’t returning punts for OSU this year, he would’ve done a much better job than Ray Small- that guy sucks.
March 4th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hartline the next Wes Welker??? Hartline is over 6′2″ tall; Welker is only 5′8″. Their height difference alone makes them totally different players. What other similarities do they have, Scott? Could it be that they’re both white and wide receivers?
I wish Hartline success at the next level and could see him doing as well as Welker if given the chance. However, they are not similar players at all.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
hartline looked good with the dolphins in yesterdays preseason game. a lot of people think he might start alongside ginn.