In the aftermath of Alex Golesh's departure from USF to Auburn last year, it seemed like there were headlines every day about which Bulls players were joining him. Included were several key USF receivers and quarterback Byrum Brown.
However, there were a few Bulls who didn't head west, and tight end Wyatt Sullivan was one of them. He sized up how new Bulls coach Brian Hartline, who was the offensive coordinator at Ohio State the last two years, uses players at his position and decided he was already at the right place.
"I was familiar with how he used (tight ends) at Ohio State, so (staying) was a no-brainer. It's my last year and I want to have the best senior year possible," he said.
"The last few seasons I was so focused on the running game, I didn't focus enough on how crisp my routes were. I've got to get better at that."
The numbers show the contrast between the two offensive systems.
Last year, Sullivan had 18 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns. That was tops on the team for USF. Fellow tight end Jonathan Echols -- who did transfer to Auburn -- had nine catches for 109 yards and three TDs. That's a combined 27 catches and 285 yards.
Contrast that with Max Klare, who was Ohio State's lead tight end in 2025. Klare had 43 catches for 448 yards. As a group, the Buckeyes combined for 74 catches for 746 yards.
Oh, and Klare was a second-round pick by the L.A. Rams in this spring's NFL draft.
Hartline said the things he stressed at Ohio State are the same things he stresses at USF.
"My expectation is for us to continue to develop an elite culture, standards, and a way of excellence in everything that we do," he said. "I think we are, looking to teach these guys how to be pros. These guys all want to play the NFL, and what that looks like from an operation standpoint, work ethic standpoint, how you work together, how you watch film, all of those things."
Sullivan, at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, has prototype tight end size. A year playing in Hartline's system could enhance the chances NFL scouts will take notice. Following the process could help make that happen.
"We don't compare ourselves to anybody else," he said. "We just try to get better every day."
I asked him if Golesh or any of his now-former teammates tried to lure him to Auburn.
"No comment," he said with a smile.
Then he turned a little more serious.
"You know, those are some of my guys. I still talk to those guys all the time," he said. "I just talked with Byrum when he was in Tampa (for the SEC media days). "Those are gonna always be my brothers, but is where I knew I needed to be."
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