Bucknuts Morning 5: An Ohio State athletics podcast

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.

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! 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Baron Browning is only halfway through his college career as he enters his junior season at Ohio State.

However, is it now or never for the middle linebacker in terms of making an impact for the Buckeyes?

Jonah Booker drops by for his usual Friday visit to discuss that, plus:

* What true freshmen could make an impact for OSU in 2019?

* What are thoughts about the Buckeyes' offensive line?

* What about the linebacking corps? Is it still a concern, or no?

* And why is everyone talking up sophomore defensive tackle Tommy Togiai so much?

All of that and more is coming at you on the Friday extravaganza.

What is the latest on running back recruiting for Ohio State in the 2020 class?

That is the question on the mind of many fans, and Steve Wiltfong drops by to answer it.

Also from The Fong:

* What does he think specifically of the recruiting acumen of Tony Alford?

* What does Steve think will happen with four-star RB Jalen Berger from New Jersey?

* Which team has more talent in 2019? Ohio State or Michigan?

* What is different about recruiting at OSU with Ryan Day in charge and not Urban Meyer?

All of that and more is coming at you on the Thursday extravaganza.