Bucknuts Morning 5: An Ohio State athletics podcast

Ohio State's linebackers were considered a weakness two seasons ago. Last year they improved quite a bit as a unit. And now in 2020, they are expected to be one of the strengths of the squad.

Jonah Booker joins Dave Biddle on today's show to go in-depth about the Buckeyes' backers and what to expect from each of the key members of the unit this season.

Also, who are some young players who are stepping up on the defensive side of the ball for OSU?

All of that and more is coming your way on the Friday 5ish.

You had questions. He had answers. Yes, it's a Q&A BM5 with 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong. 

He tackled your queries on:

* Zen Michalski

* TreyVeyon Henderson

* Underrated commitments

* Kyle McCord vs. J.J. McCarthy

* Tristan Leigh

And there's more! Spend 5ish with us this a.m., 'Nutters!

What are expectations for Ohio State sophomore wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams this season? Wilson is moving to the slot and could have a huge season, while Williams is an explosive player who is on the rise.

Matt Baxendell joins Dave Biddle on today's show to discuss that, plus:

* It's official: Shaun Wade and Wyatt Davis have been cleared by the NCAA, are currently practicing with the Buckeyes and will miss zero games.

* Ohio State appears to be on the verge of landing its 20th commitment in the 2021 class: offensive tackle Zen Michalski from the state of Indiana. And Michalski comes with a pretty cool backstory.

All of that and more is coming your way on the Wednesday 5ish as we close out the month of September strong.

Ryan Day made it official on Monday: Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade are back. 

Did we expect it? Yes. 

Do we appreciate it? Yes. 

'Adding' the nation's best interior lineman and cornerback is something we can all get into. Duane Long is here to assist. 

Other topics:

* One of the Class of 2021's hottest prospects decommitted from Louisville and seems ... uhhh ... real interested in Ohio State. We offer the latest on Zen Michalski.

* October 24 promises to be a big day for recruits coming to see Ohio State ... especially if you have to feed them.

* We've seen elite defensive ends templated into the Buckeyes' defense for years. Who can fill in the blanks?

Spend 5ish with us this a.m., 'Nutters!

The early signing period in college football is less than three months away and Ohio State is in a tight competition with Alabama to finish atop the rankings. The Buckeyes have the No. 2 class in the land with 19 commitments and an average player ranking of 94.6. The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 with 21 commits and an average player ranking of 93.9.

The Dean of Ohio State Football Recruiting, Bill Kurelic, joins Dave Biddle on today's show to give the latest on 2021 recruiting from OSU's standpoint and who he thinks will end up with the top class in the nation.

Also, the AP poll was released yesterday and Ohio State is No. 6 in the nation. So, it looks like the Buckeyes are simply not as good as we thought they were this season. We kid, we kid!

That and more is coming your way on the Monday 5ish.

The Friday 5ish is happy to be talking about Ohio State football. Jonah Booker joins Dave Biddle to discuss things like Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade returning to practice for the Buckeyes, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson having a bigger impact on the offense than some fans might believe, how great the Buckeyes' 2020 offense could be, what their defense will look like and much more. 

Also, in news that broke Thursday night, the Pac-12 is going to have a seven-game football season this fall. All of that and more is coming your way on the Friday 5ish.

Ohio State and the rest of the B1G avoided recruiting calamity when the conference decided to ... you know ... actually play football. How has the real return of the B1G to the recruiting trail affected the overall landscape? 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong has talked to a litany of conference coaches and recruits for a great piece he breaks down for us today.

PLUS: Which elite Class of 2022 targets do we need to know? Spend 5ish with us today, 'Nutters!

We are going to have Ohio State football this fall and we're still very fired up about it, even a week after the announcement. Matt Baxendell joins Dave Biddle on today's show to talk about that and why OSU president Kristina Johnson is a breath of fresh air.

Plus, Dave has a crazy idea to pass along.

Also, we need to help Haskell Garrett, Bucknutters.

All of that and more is coming your way on the Wednesday 5ish.

Today's opening topic is one we have not discussed with our guest for a while: ACTUAL FOOTBALL. Duane Long is here and the Buckeyes are back. Duane lets you know just how he feels about the overturned decision (HINT: Heavy approval). Who are Duane's picks for Ohio State's offensive MVP and defensive MVP? Buckeyes' biggest test? How many first round draft picks? We hit all that plus touch on the NFL injury carnage to guys who starred in The Shoe. Spend 5ish with us a.m., 'Nutters.

How much did Brian Schottenstein help in getting Big Ten football restored for this fall? What were some of the happenings behind the scenes within the conference and beyond that would interest you? Well, you can find out on today's show as Brian was gracious enough to join us for a wide-ranging interview.

All of that is coming your way on the Monday 5ish.