Bucknuts Morning 5

Beware the Fighting Fickells. That's got to be the motto at the WHAC this week. One-time Ohio State 'interim' head coach and still great Buckeye Luke Fickell brings his Cincinnati Bearcats to Columbus this weekend. Think Fickell and Co. are geeked for the matchup? Think they've allowed themselves to think what a win over Ohio State would do for their program? Let's hope the Buckeyes stay away from narratives like that and remain focus on the task at hand: Beating a solid in-state rival on your home turf. Everybody has thoughts on the matchup ... including today's guest: 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong.  Steve opines on the Cincy-OSU matchup as well as several other compelling Big Ten out-of-conference tussles scheduled for the weekend. We also get Steve's knowledge on running back recruiting and Ohio State's interest in two Georgia running backs currently committed elsewhere that have popped on the Buckeyes' recruiting radar. Spend 5ish with us this a.m., 'Nutters! Learn more about your ad cho

We are channeling our inner Dave Matthews Band on the show today as there is So Much To Say about the Ohio State Buckeyes. The People's Champ, Matt Baxendell, joins Dave Biddle for the Friday extravaganza to discuss: * What is to make of the Buckeyes' running backs? * How much does OSU need sophomore defensive end Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday to return? And how close are they to doing so? * What looks especially good about QB Justin Fields? What does it look like he needs to work on the most? * Was Garrett Wilson not touching the ball in the opener just an aberration? * What are in-depth thoughts on the Ohio State-Cincinnati game this Saturday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are still basking in the glow of Ohio State's opening win and really just the return of meaningful football. Sure, it was the opener against an overmatched opponent paid to come get its tail kicked, that will not stop us from making sweeping judgements off a limited sample size. It's what we do! Duane Long is here in his usual Tuesday spot to offer up his impressions of the debut weekend: * Justin Fields and his amazing start ... yet lackluster finish. What gives? * How did the linebackers look after an offseason of consternation? * The offensive line showed signs of being dominant. How strong were the signs? * Is J.K. Dobbins going to be able to carry the load? Who can help him? * What type of challenge does Cincinnati present this weekend? Spend 5ish with us this a.m., 'Nutters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is Labor Day, but Bill "Bank" Greene is open for business. Bank joins Dave Biddle for today's show to discuss: * Ohio State's season-opening win over Florida Atlantic. * The performance from Justin Fields? * What needs to improve the most for the Buckeyes? * What are thoughts about the upcoming OSU-Cincinnati game? * What is the latest on the recruiting trail for the Buckeyes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We need more than 5ish to wrap up Ohio State games and forecast the future. So we had to bring our 'extended' Sunday morning podcast back for the season. What did we think of Florida Atlantic? What did we think of Ohio State's debut on several fronts? Bill Kurelic is here. Matt Baxendell is here. Steve Helwagen is here. I got out of the way and let them spread wisdom. Enjoy spending part of your Sunday a.m. with us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is eve of Ohio State's season opener against visiting Florida Atlantic, and there is plenty to discuss on the show as Jonah Booker joins Dave Biddle for his usual Friday visit. Some of the items on the docket include: * JBook is pretty fired up about the development of OSU sophomore quarterback Justin Fields and cannot wait to see him in action in the Horseshoe on Saturday. * What else are we looking forward to seeing the most during the game? * What is to be expected when the Buckeyes finally release their depth chart later today? What will we learn about the injury status of senior defensive end Jonathon Cooper, senior wide receiver Austin Mack and perhaps others? * What are reasonable expectations for wide receiver Garrett Wilson as a true freshman? All of that and more is on tap for the Friday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The real start of the season - Ohio State hosting Florida Atlantic - kicks off Saturday at noon. But there are plenty of questions that need answering and not just out of Columbus. So we brought in 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong to offer insight on Ohio State season's ahead on the field, on the recruiting trail and ... where the Buckeyes will end up. But we had even more to present The Fong. So it was time for another edition of ... The True or False Game! Here are the 'statements.' You'll have to tune in for The Fong's responses! * Justin Fields will be the best QB in B1G * Garrett Wilson will be the best true freshman in country * JK Dobbins will finish as B1G’s second leading rusher * Ohio State will make the College Football Playoff * Henry Parrish will ultimately be a Buckeye * Ohio State will finish the 2020 cycle with a top 3 recruiting class * Tua Tagovailoa will win Heisman Trophy * Lincoln Riley will leave Oklahoma to take over the Dallas Cowboys after this season Then we

What will be the most exciting things to see play out during Ohio State's season-opener against visiting Florida Atlantic on Saturday? One of course is how sophomore quarterback Justin Fields performs. But what else? The revamped defense? The offensive line? The young running backs? Yes, yes and yes. The People's Champ, Matt Baxendell, joins Dave Biddle to delve into that on the Wednesday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a 5-star recruit and one of the highest-rated players at his position - ever - there certainly are a lot of Justin Fields doubters. Why? Who knows? Why is Michigan picked by many to beat Ohio State? Who knows? But that didn't stop Duane Long and me from trying to figure out the Fields angst and get on the record with our expectations for the new quarterback. Also: * What is Duane's biggest concern about the Buckeyes with the opener just days away? * Which Buckeye are we not discussing enough? * Which Big Ten teams (see: NOT Ohio State) could be upset this weekend? All that and more awaits so spend 5ish with this a.m., 'Nutters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State kicks off its 2019 football schedule on Saturday against visiting Florida Atlantic in just five days, and you can feel the excitement in Buckeye Nation. Steve Helwagen joins Dave Biddle on today's show to discuss expectations for the 2019 Buckeyes, recent developments within the program and much more. That is coming at you on the Monday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All offseason, Jonah Booker has been predicting a big season for Ohio State fourth-year junior running back Demario McCall. With the recent news that McCall has established himself as the primary backup to starter J.K. Dobbins, it looks like JBook will be on the money with that prediction. JBook joins Dave Biddle on today's show to discuss that, plus: * How does the overall depth at RB now look for the Buckeyes this season? * How much might OSU rotate on its offensive line, especially early in the year? * Were there any surprises coming out of camp in terms of positional battles? All of that and more is coming at you on the Friday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hope you packed a lunch for today's show. You're gonna need it. Yes, it's Thursday so 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong is here to spread wisdom on the following topics: * Jalen Berger, Michael Drennen, E.J. Smith ... who will be Ohio State's running back recruits in 2020? * Which Ohio State freshmen has Wiltfong heard are thriving in camp? Is there a freshman who is the best player at his position ... already? * Real football starts this weekend. Who does Wiltfong thinks emerges in the Florida-Miami tussle and will we be treated to a Tate Martell sighting? That would be enough for your standard Thursday show. But like we said: It's a MEGA POD Thursday. We are also joined by Dane Brugler, NFL Draft Expert for The Athletic. He offers the most complete breakdowns you can get on the possible NFL futures of several Buckeyes: *Chase Young *Jeffrey Okudah *Thayer Munford *K.J. Hill *Austin Mack *Ben Victor *Jordan Fuller  *Jonathan Cooper *BB Landers *Malik Harrison *Damon Arnette How many first ro

Senior captain Jonathon Cooper will miss some time following ankle surgery, so which defensive ends are going to step up for Ohio State while he is out? The People's Champ, Matt Baxendell, joins Dave Biddle to discuss that, plus: * What are expectations for sophomore quarterback Justin Fields from a statistical standpoint this season? * The C.J. Saunders story is awesome. We talk about it. * The Buckeyes' secondary has the potential to be excellent this fall.  All of that and more is coming at you on the Monday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This show is fun. Duane Long and I do this every season. It's our wacky predictions episode. You can see the categories we used this season below. Feel free to play along with us! 1 - The four playoff teams will be ___, ___, ___ and ____  and the Heisman Trophy winner will be ___ . 2 - The first five Buckeyes to be picked (in order) in the 2020 NFL Draft will be ___, ___, ___, ___, ___ . 3 - Ohio State will play its last game of the season against ________ in the ________ . 4 - This Ohio State staffers could move on after this season: ______ . Duane and I also added three predictions of our own, among them: * Who is the forgotten star on Ohio State's offense? * Where could Ohio State fall during the regular season? * Which potential open coaching job will hang over college football this season? * Could Justin Fields threaten Dwayne Haskins' records? Spend 5ish with us today, 'Nutters!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will announce his starting quarterback today after practice around 11:15 a.m. Hmm, we wonder who it could be. Perhaps, sophomore Justin Fields? Bill "Bank" Greene joins Dave Biddle to discuss that, plus: * What is Bank hearing about true freshman Marcus Crowley? There seems to be quite a bit of hype around him. * What are thoughts on fifth-year senior Branden Bowen likely beating out redshirt freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere for the starting right tackle job? All of that and more is coming at you on the Monday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is yet to name a starting quarterback. However, he said he would likely make a decision on Monday. Does that mean he will announce Justin Fields is the Buckeyes' starter? Patrick Murphy joins Dave Biddle to discuss that, plus many other camp happenings on the Friday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perhaps you've heard: Tate Martell failed to earn the starting quarterback job at Miami (Fla.). Given Martell's Ohio Statish roots, it was big news in Columbus. But was it surprising news?  247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong is here to talk Martell, Ohio State quarterback recruiting and where on the Buckeyes' schedule could trouble raise? All of that and more is coming at you on the Thursday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has said all along that sophomore Justin Fields would not have the starting quarterback job handed to him. However, very few actually believed him. Thus far, Day has remained firm that it's still a competition between Fields and fourth-year junior Gunnar Hoak. The People's Champ, Matt Baxendell, joins Dave Biddle on today's show to discuss that, plus: * What can be expected of Fields if he is the starting QB this year for OSU? * What should fans expect from true freshman running back Marcus Crowley? * Is Baron Browning headed for a breakout year at linebacker? Or is the former 5-star recruit still going to leave fans wanting more. * What are takes on Tate Martell not being named the starting QB at Miami? All of that and more is coming at you on the Wednesday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No position group enters this season with more questions than linebacker.  The standard set in Columbus - see recent examples Ryan Shazier, Darron Lee, Raekwon McMillan - has been elusive for a few years. Ryan Day brought in a new coach - Al Washington by way of Ann Arbor - to get the unit back to where it needs to be.  Can he do it? Was it a talent issue? Can the linebackers play well enough for Ohio State to compete at a 'playoff' level? Duane Long is here to continue his unit-by-unit Buckeye previews and takes on linebackers. Spend 5ish with us this a.m., 'Nutters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is Monday and the Dean of Ohio State Football Recruiting, Bill Kurelic, joins Dave Biddle to discuss the following: * Why is Bill headed down to Cincinnati to see Paris Johnson today? * How would Bill describe Johnson's game? What does he already do very well? What does he still need to work on? * What is the latest with running back recruiting for the Buckeyes in their 2020 class? * And we even have a non-recruiting topic for the Dean: Is he concerned about running back depth for the 2019 Buckeyes?  All of that and more is coming at you on the Monday extravaganza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices