Cortez Hankton Targets Top 2027 Receiver at Ohio State

Cortez Hankton, recently appointed wide receivers coach at Ohio State, made his first offer to a recruit already committed to another university: five-star Texas Longhorns pledge Easton Royal, according to reports surfacing January 7, 2026.

Hankton’s move comes after officially taking over the wide receiver position following the departure of Brian Hartline to the University of South Florida. Ryan Day, Ohio State’s head coach, announced Hankton’s hiring on January 1, 2026, citing Hankton’s decade of experience within the Southeastern Conference and his track record of developing top talent. Day stated the program was “excited to welcome Cortez and his family to Ohio State,” and highlighted Hankton’s ability to integrate into the program’s existing culture.

Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Hankton spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at LSU, initially as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, and later adding co-offensive coordinator to his responsibilities. During his tenure at LSU, the Tigers consistently ranked highly in SEC passing offense, achieving the top spot in 2023 and second place in 2024. He coached players like Kyren Lacy, who led the SEC in touchdown receptions in 2024, and Malik Nabers, a unanimous All-American selected sixth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Brian Thomas, another of Hankton’s LSU receivers, was drafted 23rd overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hankton previously recruited Royal while at LSU, but the Louisiana native ultimately committed to Texas. Royal visited Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ game against Texas, providing an opportunity to observe the program’s wide receiver corps firsthand. According to 247Sports Composite recruiting ratings, Royal is ranked as the No. 12 player nationally, the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2027 class, and the top player in Louisiana.

The pursuit of Royal marks an immediate and aggressive approach by Hankton as he seeks to establish himself at Ohio State. Hankton also reached out to 2027 five-star receiver commit Jamier Brown following his appointment, signaling a focus on bolstering the Buckeyes’ receiving talent.