Bucknuts Morning 5: An Ohio State athletics podcast

Ohio State is applying the finishing touches the Class of 2027. Several elite targets remain and we address who and when the verdict will arrive.

But the majority of today's show is about who has 'next'? It's time to begin learning the Class of 2028 in earnest.

Who better to do that with than our Garrick Hodge and Mark Porter?

The answer: Nobody. That means you've come to the right place.

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

We answer questions from Bucknuts subscribers on today's show. What is the latest with David Gabriel Georges? Will first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have full autonomy this season? When will Legend Bey score his first touchdown for the Buckeyes?

That and much more is coming your way on the Monday 5ish with Dave Biddle and Dan Rubin.

Ohio State's 2027 recruiting class is cleared for takeoff. The latest commitment for the Buckeyes came in the form of 5-star wide receiver Jett Harrison on Friday. He is the brother of former OSU WR Marvin Harrison Jr., and continues what has been an amazing streak on the recruiting front for the Buckeyes.

Also, is it "inevitable" that one day major college football players will be considered "employees" of their universities, right down to signing a CBA?

Jonah Booker and Dave Biddle tackle that and much more on the Friday 5ish.

The beat goes on. We all fretted when Brian Hartline took the promotion at South Florida. Could new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton fill Hartline's Shaq-sized shoes?

Thus far, it's been a slam dunk for Hankton and all dunk contest judges would give him a 10 for Wednesday's bucket: Jett Harrison.

Marvin, Sr.'s son and Marvin, Jr.'s little brother verbally committed to Ohio State to bolster Class of 2028 recruiting like no other.

We dive deep on the legacy continuing, why Monsana Torbert picked Michigan over Ohio State and who the Buckeyes are...

Is a "Big 5" emerging in terms of the college football teams that spend the most on NIL? It sure looks like it. And yes, Ohio State is one of the five. Who are the others? And where is this information coming from?

That is the main topic of discussion on the Wednesday 5ish with Dave Biddle and Patrick Murphy, who also discuss Ohio State's recruiting heater and more.

Ohio State added three commitments since Friday and we need to talk about it.

Our Garrick Hodge is here. Our Mark Porter is here. 

Caden Moss committed. Jordan Donahoo committed. Markus Fakatou committed. 

Who deserves credit for all the 'yes' work?

There's plenty to go around.

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

Is playing an extremely tough regular-season schedule a good idea in the era of a 12-team College Football Playoff, or is it akin to shooting yourself in the foot? Well, we are about to find out this year given Ohio State's brutal slate that includes three teams widely ranked within the top-5 nationally (Texas, Indiana, Oregon), plus three other squads that are expected to be ranked (USC, Michigan, Iowa). The season will serve as a referendum of sorts on tough schedules, at least from the Buckeyes' point of view.

Also, Dave Biddle and Dan Rubin react to...

Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork spoke to the local media for an hour on Thursday and many topics were covered. On today's show, Jonah Booker and Dave Biddle read between the lines of some of Bjork's comments and what they mean for Ohio State football moving forward. That is coming your way on the Friday 5ish.

Is there anything more reliable than the Glenville Pipeline's flow to Ohio State?

Oh, there's something alright. It's called modern recruiting. The confluence of these factors will coalesce today when Kaylon Bailey commits. The Class of 2027 defensive standout is expected to make the call today between Ohio State and ... Colorado? Yes, the Fighting Deion Sanders.

Our Garrick Hodge breaks it all down for you before previewing the weekend commitments of Ohio State targets Caden Moss and Blake Wong.

Normally, that would suffice for a show. Not this one. Mark Porter is also here...

Redshirts and sixth-year seniors will no longer be a thing in college sports as the Division I Council voted unanimously to pass the "5-to-play-5" rule on Tuesday, meaning athletes will have five years to play five seasons. The clock begins when they enroll as a freshman or when they turn 19, whichever comes first.

How might this impact Ohio State? And what do we think about the rule overall? Dave Biddle and Steve Helwagen delve into that and much more on the Wednesday 5ish.

Hold on to your hats, 'Nutters, this show moves fast. There's a lot to cover.

First Class of 2029 commitment?

Family legacy in sight in 2028?

Clarity at quarterback in 2027?

DGG and friend on their way?

Film room love for recent commitment Jaden Carey?

Yes, all that. And more. A lot more. 

Garrick Hodge and Mark Porter are here ... and they cook!

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

If you could add any former Ohio State player to the 2026 roster, who would it be? You can only choose one.

That is one of the topics of today's show with Dave Biddle and Dan Rubin. Also, why is no one talking about the fact that Oregon is replacing both coordinators this year? Well, we're going to talk about it.

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

For a while, it seemed as if the long-standing relationship between 2027 quarterback Brady Edmunds and Ohio State was headed for a breakup. Edmonds has been verbally committed to Ohio State for over a year-and-a-half (Dec. 2, 2024, to be exact). However, when the Buckeyes started looking at other QBs in the 2027 class, and when Edmunds started considering other programs like UCLA, it appeared as though the relationship has soured.

However, Edmunds is currently on his official visit to Ohio State, and has been in town since Tuesday. And from talking to him, everything is going extremely well thus far.<...

Ohio State's practice fields were buzzing yesterday. Recruiting camp brought out the stars. Committed quarterbacks. Offered quarterbacks. Elite skill talent. Future impact linemen.

Camp also attracted our guys lead by Garrick Hodge and the reporting was intense!

We break it all down with Garrick and get Mark Porter's on-the-road vibes after spending yesterday in Happy Valley.

Enough for this show? No! Today brings even more camp intrigue at Ohio State and we get you completely set.

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

What will college football look like in the future? Are we headed for a collective bargaining agreement that would make the players employees? That is one of the topics of discussion on today's show as Ben Koo of Awful Announcing drops by to join Dave Biddle. Also on the agenda:

* Ohio State has a brutal regular-season schedule, but the Buckeyes are still the favorites to win the national championship. Other than the schedule, any concerns about this team? Or are they loaded up for a great season?

* We get Ben's hot takes on Texas Tech...

Are you ready for another week of camp? You best be. Ohio State will host prospects again today and Thursday. There's a 7-on-7 event scheduled for Wednesday. That day also brings certain well-known guys (see Edmunds, Brady).

We welcome in Garrick Hodge and Mark Porter to preview today's red carpet rollout for priority targets Tyzon Swann (nation's No. 1 DT in '28) and Lucas Prock ('28 QB with Ohio State offer). They won't be alone. It's a star-studded group that's expected. 

And that includes Garrick and Mark, who will be there with bells on to report ba...

Which Ohio State players are headed for breakout seasons in 2026? That is what Dave Biddle and Dan Rubin will predict on the Monday 5ish.

We are having a Buckeye fantasy draft on today's show, as Jonah Booker and Dave Biddle will draft offensive skilled position players from the Jim Tressel era on. JBook and Dave will each end up with one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers and one tight end.

Also, continuing a topic from The Front Row message board from yesterday, what was the best move of the offseason for the Buckeyes? And this includes players landed via the transfer portal, recruits in the 2026 class, coaching hires and player retention.

Also, go USA in the World...

The talent show at Ohio State continues. Here's the good thing: Garrick Hodge and Mark Porter are on the case.

Our guys share expert witness vibes from recruiting camps this week in Columbus. We drill down today on prospects that earned offers and others whose recruitment progressed.

What did Michigan legacy and Ohio native Asa Birch have to say? Hint: You will like it.

Who earned offers and why? 

Who is visiting this weekend for an official visit and why?

We have the answers. All you need to do is...

Will Big Ten teams follow through on the threat to not schedule Texas Tech in any sport, due to the Brendan Sorsby situation? Or is that just posturing? 

What starting jobs are still undecided for Ohio State with preseason camp less than two months away?

What were takeaways from the first recruiting camp of the summer at OSU on Tuesday?

Dave Biddle and Patrick Murphy discuss that and much more on the Wednesday 5ish.

They come from all over this wonderful country. It's Camp Day at Ohio State. Anyone interested in playing football for the Buckeyes better be ready.

Our guys certainly are. Garrick Hodge is here. Mark Porter is here ... and he's got company.

We dive deep on what you can expect from today's Ohio State recruiting camp and how you can follow in REAL TIME along with Garrick and our guys cover the event.

Big names are expected.

Then we review the weekend and official visits that helped Ohio State gain clarity at defe...

You down with DGG? Yeah, you know me. Will the nation's No. 2 running back recruit in the 2027 class, David Gabriel Georges, end up selecting Ohio State? Or will he stay in his home state of Tennessee?

Also, what is our confidence level for the Buckeyes' offensive line this year on a scale of 1-10?

Dave Biddle and Dan Rubin tackle that and much more on the Monday 5ish.

Pat Murphy and JBook take a stroll down memory lane before answering questions from the 'Nutters ...

Six key recruits are headed for Columbus this weekend. 

Garrick Hodge is here to let you know exactly who and why each plays a potentially key role in Ohio State's future.

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

Scarlet and Gray ... and black occasionally ... with stripes ... or maybe all white?

Every 'Nutters has a favorite Ohio State jersey look. Which is the best?

Pat Murphy joins the show to detail his recent jersey deep dive with the behind-the-scenes leverage pullers.

But that's not all.

We discuss:

* Why so much Julian Sayin angst?

* What is the ideal college football playoff system?

* Is the 5-to-play-5 and one-time transfer rule the answer?

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

It was not a crowded recruiting weekend. But it was hugely important.

Three key Class of 2027 targets - DL Marcus Fakatou, RB David Gabriel-Georges and WR Benny Easter - and a recent Ohio State commitment - LB Prince Goldsby - all came to Columbus.

Was the meter moved? Garrick Hodge and Mark Porter bring you the latest.

That's before a deep dive into the film of commitment Angelo Smith, the first commitment in the '27 class and a discussion on Ohio native Chaz Coleman's status at Tennessee. 

Spend 5ish with us t...

Welcome to June, 'Nutters!

There's plenty to discuss and we are fortunate to have Steve Helwagen here to wax poetic as Dave Biddle vacations, sunning himself in a discreet Caribbean locale.

No beach time for the Buckeyes, however. We dive deep on a few overarching topics:

* Was there a Michigan win hangover last season?

* Is Ohio State's vaunted '26 schedule actually a bit overrated?

* Julian Sayin - he good?

Then it's quality basketball chatter - yes, basketball - taking stock of where the program sits as practice...

On today's show, Dave Biddle and Patrick Murphy will predict which Ohio State players will finish first, second, third and fourth on the team in major statistical categories in 2026. The categories are:

* Rushing yards.

* Receptions.

* Receiving yards.

* Total touchdowns.

* Sacks.

* Tackles-for-loss.

* Tackles.

* Interceptions.

Again, we're not just picking who will finish first on the Buckeyes in these categories. We're going 1-2-3-4 in all of them. That is coming your way on the Friday 5ish.

Mother Nature is an Ohio State fan? 

Given this weekend's glorious weather forecast, it's a real possibility. Several key recruiting targets are expected to hit the red carpet in Columbus this weekend and sunny skies are expected.

Garrick Hodge is here with names and info: David Garbiel-Georges, Marcus Fakatou and Benny Easter. 

Mark Porter joins with his own evaluations.

Other topics broached:

* Could Ohio State lose four games this season?

* Why such angst surrounding Julian Sayin?

* Is offensive line commitment Brody McNeel headed for left ta...

We are happy to welcome Dan Hope from Eleven Warriors to the show. Dan and Dave Biddle will discuss the following and more on today's program:

* Reacting to Ohio State being the betting favorite to win the 2026 national championship. What other national title odds jump out at us?

* How do the Heisman odds look for Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith?

* Speaking of Sayin, he seems to have a decent amount of critics this offseason. What does Dan Hope think about that?

* What does the future of the College Football Playoff look...

We've got the band back together.

Garrick Hodge is back after a week's sojourn. Mark Porter is here. And of course, your Buckeyes handled their end with a Memorial Day commitment!

We dive deep on Prince Goldsby, Ohio State trending for an all-time defensive line haul and so much more.

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

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices...

Are we not talking enough about the impact first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is going to have at Ohio State this year? That is the main topic of conversation on today's show with Jonah Booker and Dave Biddle. Also on the docket:

* Who will blink first in the "CFP standoff" between Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commish Greg Sankey? Petitti wants a 24-team field. And if he doesn't get it, he will elect to keep the CFP at 12 teams. A 16-team CFP is off the table as far as the Big Ten is concerned. It's...

Mark Porter has seen more Ohio prospects than anyone this offseason. It's true. Has it been easy? If you like being away from your family, fast food and motels ... sure.

It's certainly been productive. Nobody has the knowledge our guy does.

Today's show not only has video from his latest stop but also praise and insight on Tim Hinton, the Ohio State assistant coach out on the road almost as much as Mark.

We also pick up where we left off on the recent commitment of Wyatt Smith and soak up the buzz...

We are happy to welcome in longtime Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises to today's show. Doug and Dave Biddle will discuss the following:

* Does the NCAA have any teeth left? We're about to find out due to this Brendan Sorsby situation. How is there any gray area here when discussing someone who bet on his own team?

* Ranking the former Ohio State wide receivers who are currently in the NFL.

* Speaking of OSU WRs, presuming Brandon Inniss is second on the squad in receptions and yards this year, who will be third...

Perhaps order has been restored.

Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton defensive back Monsanna Torbert Jr. decommitted from Indiana on Monday. Word is his home state team is looking quite good now. It just feels right, doesn't it?

Another feel good moment happened over the weekend when Florida defensive end Wyatt Smith committed to Ohio State.

Mark Porter hits the solo expert hot seat today as Garrick Hodge's exotic locale vacation hits its stride.

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

To learn more about listener data and...

Which transfer will make the biggest impact for Ohio State this year? Is a 24-team College Football Playoff inevitable at some point in the near future? How big of a get is 2027 defensive end Wyatt Smith?

Cameron Teague-Robinson of The Athletic joins Dave Biddle to discuss that and much more on the Monday 5ish.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's show, Jonah Booker and Dave Biddle predict the 2026 Big Ten standings in football, 1-8. (Sorry, teams 9-18.) Do we have Ohio State in the No. 1 spot? Where does Michigan fall? What about Penn State and others? And are their clear "tiers" when breaking this topic down?

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

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices<...

Recruiting for Ohio State has reached grinder mode. Road trips. Flights. Trains. Horse and buggy. Whatever it takes to see and court the next Buckeyes, this staff is on it.

So is our Mark Porter! He joins us to start the show from a stationary spot - a rarity these days. Mark has video of several elite Ohioans in action. It's stuff you don't want to miss.

Garrick Hodge is here, too! He lets you know the current top of the board prospect remaining for Ohio State at every position in the Class of 2027.

What will be Ohio State's strengths and weaknesses in 2026? That is the main topic of discussion as Dave Biddle welcomes in Stephen Means from Cleveland.com to today's show. Also discussed is players who surprised during spring ball, a look at the Buckeyes' tough schedule this season and more.

That is coming your way on the Wednesday 5ish.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Auditions everywhere. That's the current vibe for Ohio State football recruiting. Many want in. Few will actually enter. This is the time Ohio State's staff dials in on who to grant the elite opportunity.

That means scouring Ohio. That means inviting coveted prospects from all over the country to campus. 

Garrick Hodge was at Under Armour's Columbus camp over the weekend. Mark Porter has traversed Ohio several times to determine the Buckeye State's best.

Luckily, both are on this show and have all the news you need from their efforts.

Spend 5i...