Bucknuts Morning 5: An Ohio State athletics podcast

Is there any chance Bri'onte Dunn will be reinstated to Ohio State's football team if no criminal charges are filed?

Which recruits are on "commit watch" at Friday Night Lights, which is just two days away?

Jonah Booker joins Dave Biddle to discuss that and much more.

There are slow summer days when we have to scramble for BM5 topics.

Today is not one of those days.

Senior running back Br'ionte Dunn has been dismissed from the Ohio State football program and we are here to talk about that and all the ramifications.

It's Tuesday and that means Duane Long is here to help deal with this disappointing news ... 

Is 2016 the most difficult regular-season schedule you can remember for Ohio State? What year would even be a close second?

That's one of the questions tackled on the Bucknuts Morning 5 where Matt Baxendell joins Dave Biddle.

Also, Urban Meyer is at his best when he's an underdog. How much will Oklahoma be favored over the Buckeyes in Norman if both teams enter the game 2-0? Meyer is 6-0 as an underdog at OSU, including all three games of the 2014 postseason.

The show wraps up with some conversation about Friday Night Lights, which is just four days away.

Is Michael Weber definitely going to be Ohio State's starting running back this season?

How are things shaping up at the wide receiver position for the Buckeyes?

Plus, what did Thad Matta recently say at a golf outing about the players that transferred from OSU following the 2015-16 season? 

Steve Helwagen joins Dave Biddle to discuss all of that and more.

There were some that doubted J.K. Dobbins heading into The Opening. Those doubters are no longer doing so with much vigor and we bring in 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong for the latest.

Is Dobbins and every-down back?

How did he fare in the eye test among other elite backs?

Could he be the next ... wait for it ... ZEKE?

We shall see ... but spend a few with us this a.m. just in case.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano's name was dragged through the mud on Tuesday when unlocked testimony from former Penn State quarterback and assistant coach Mike McQueary was released. McQueary's testimony stated that former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley -- who is now the DC at UCLA -- told McQueary that Schiano once said to Bradley that he witnessed something disturbing happen with Jerry Sandusky and a boy in PSU's locker room.

Schiano denied this allegation later on Tuesday with a one-line statement that said he had never witnessed nor had any reason to expect any abuse during his time at Penn State.

Is that denial enough for Schiano? Can he move on now without this story following him?

Bucknuts contributor Brandon Castel joins hos Dave Biddle to answer that and more.

We close the show with some actual discussion on Ohio State football. What is the outlook for the 2016 Buckeyes? Will they be Big Ten champions? Will they advance to the College Football Playoff? Castel gives his opinion on all of that.

We are back on track Bucknutters so that means the standard Tuesday visit with Duane Long.

Which future Buckeyes actually improved their stock at The Opening?

The answer is two guys that we may have taken for granted around here.

We also ask why Michigan is drawing so much national acclaim as the latest Vegas odds to win the national title have been released.

Spend 5ish with us ... 

Mi'Quan Grace just finished eighth grade. The Cincinnati Winton Woods product has already received scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Kentucky. Furthermore, Ohio State is very interested in him.

This begs a question: When is too early to offer a recruit a scholarship? Ohio State offered quarterback Danny Clark when he was just a freshman, and most observers think the Buckeyes would like a mulligan on that decision.

We bring in 247Sports national director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong for his usual Thursday visit to answer that and much more.

Wiltfong also plays the "In or Out?" game where he predicts whether the following 5-star recruits will be in Ohio State's 2017 class: Cam Akers, Baron Browning, Wyatt Davis, Trevon Grimes, Tyjon Lindsey, Jeffrey Okudah and Chase Young. It's the same game we played with our Duane Long on yesterday's show, but Wilftong's answers are a bit different from Long's.

Numbers are tight for Ohio State's ultra-impressive 2017 recruiting class.

Will the Buckeyes land five-star prospects Cam Akers, Baron Browning, Wyatt Davis, Trevon Grimes, Tyjon Lindsey, Jeffrey Okudah and Chase Young?

Duane Long joins host Dave Biddle by to give his prediction on each of them.

Long also gives his prediction on four-star recruits Amir Riep, Jay Tufele and Jaymest Williams.

Is Ohio State the favorite to land five-star prospects Cam Akers, Trevon Grimes, Tyjon Lindsey, Jeffrey Okudah and Chase Young?

We bring in Duane Long to play the "In Or Out?" game with each of those five recruits from the 2017 class. The Buckeyes are also in on other five-star recruits such as Baron Browning, but we just cover Akers, Grimes, Lindsey, Okudah and Young on today's show.

We also play the "In Or Out?" game with a trio of four-star prospects: Amir Riep, Jay Tufele and Jamyest Williams.

Also, how many recruits will the Buckeyes eventually sign in their 2017 class?