Wide receiver whisperer Brian Hartline lands first WR recruit as USF head coach

University of South Florida Bulls football head coach Brian Hartline. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Wide receiver whisperer Brian Hartline lands first WR recruit as USF head coach

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated May 5, 2026 10:50 PM ET

Normally, the USF Bulls don't get a ton of coverage when it comes to what they're doing on the recruiting trail.

That may change for USF under new head coach Brian Hartline, though.

Hartline, 39, is known as one of the up-and-comers in college football circles, and he's developed quite a reputation as a recruiter and as an offensive mind.

He's also known as one of the best wide receiver coaches in the country, having played an integral role in the development of players like Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

If you're a top wide receiver in the NFL, there's a decent chance Hartline was your position coach during his time at Ohio State.

That's why it's more than notable that he's picked up his first wide receiver prospect as the head coach at USF.

That would be three-star Austin Busso from Oradell, New Jersey.

Busso committed to Hartline and USF over Tennessee, Pitt and Minnesota on Tuesday.

BEYOND BLESSED TO ANNOUNCE MY COMMITMENT TO USF!!!! @brianhartline @M_White03 @bccoachvito @BergenCathFBall @BCBROTHERHOOD @samspiegs @ChadSimmons_ @BillyEmbody @TomLoy247 @DemetricDWarren @Coach_CJBailey @shayhodge3 @fbscout_florida @JoeVac70 pic.twitter.com/uJA7Xo76sz
— Austin busso 2027 WR (@AustinBusso) May 5, 2026

“I knew USF was home when I first visited and I wanna play for Coach Hartline because I know he will develop me into the best player I can be and I know he will make me a better man off the field,” Busso told Steve Wiltfong of Rivals.

Brian Hartline lands second commitment for USF's 2027 class

Playing for Bergen Catholic High School, Busso caught 40 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior season.

Hartline knew Busso because, even though Ohio State didn't offer the three-star, Hartline had recruited him. Busso also had a previous relationship with wideouts coach Myles White, who had recruited him at Syracuse.

“What also made me choose [USF] was how loyal Coach White and Coach Hartline have been," Busso said. "They’ve been recruiting me since they were at the schools before USF. And I also love how honest they have been with me. I also feel like I will excel in that USF offense ran by Coach [Tim] Beck.”

Busso is ranked as the No. 120 wideout in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. It's safe to assume he'll be one of the better wideouts out of this class when all is said and done, once Hartline gets to work with him.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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