Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State football begins fall camp as 2019 season approaches

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise! Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Ohio State begins fall practice

After a long offseason full of questions about the depth chart, the new coaching staff and what the schemes might look like this season for the Buckeyes, now they actually get to settle all that on the field instead of talking about it.

August certainly is setting up to be a busy month for the program and its new leader, and the high-stakes pressure for a potential College Football Playoff contender only adds to the intrigue. What kind of product can Day deliver as he takes over for Urban Meyer? Is Justin Fields ready to fill the shoes of the Heisman Trophy finalist who played quarterback for the Buckeyes last year? Can the Silver Bullets live up to the program’s rich tradition again coming off the defensive debacles of a year ago?

All will be revealed soon enough as the Buckeyes hit the practice field on Friday. But to get ready for the month of training camp ahead, Lettermen Row is looking into the crystal ball and making five predictions for what will shake out during practice.

Will Ohio State land Bijan Robinson?

Lettermen Row recruiting czar weighs in on the recruitment of 5-star running back Bijan Robinson, who announces his decision Friday and appears to be slipping from Ohio State’s grasp after a surprising turn of events:

Whether he picks Ohio State or not on Friday, the program would need to continue recruiting Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic 5-star running back Bijan Robinson either way. That’s just recruiting in 2019. No recruitment is ever really over until a prospect hits send on the Letter of Intent on signing day.

But that isn’t likely to decrease the sting the Ohio State coaching staff will feel on Friday when the country’s fourth-ranked running back announces his commitment to Texas, USC or Arizona instead of Ohio State. It’s been a wild swing of emotion for the Buckeyes, because as recently as last Saturday morning Robinson was set to pick them.

The Buckeyes have been given no real explanation for the change of heart from Robinson and his family. Even if they had been, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that on Friday, Robinson won’t pick the Buckeyes.

Final Call: Not the Buckeyes

For more on Ohio State recruiting, check out the Thursday edition of Dotting the ‘Eyes.

Carmen’s Crew into TBT semis

Carmen’s Crew, the team comprised of former Ohio State basketball players, advanced to the semifinals of The Basketball Tournament with a 79-71 victory over last year’s national runner-up, Eberlein Drive.

Next, Carmen’s Crew will take on the winner of Overseas Elite and Loyalty is Love for a spot in the championship game. Overseas Elite has won four straight TBT championships and has never lost a game in its TBT history. (The team was not part of the first ever TBT in 2014.)

Beanie and the Boom

This week on Beanie and The Boom, the guys break down what they’re looking for as Ohio State opens training camp. Boom has a bold prediction on Ohio State’s season. (9:50) Beanie and Boom also talk about Michael Thomas’ contract extension with the Saints (25:00) and Zeke’s holdout with the Cowboys (30:30).

Ohio State No. 5 in coaches poll

The first preseason poll of the season is out, and the coaches ranked Ohio State No. 5 in the country.The Buckeyes, who finished third in the final coaches poll a season ago, were ranked fifth in the AmWay Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday. Ohio State is the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten, and the Buckeyes are one of seven Big Ten teams ranked by the coaches.

Clemson took the top spot and received 59 of the 65 first-place votes, followed by Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma.

Counting down

• First day of fall practice: Today
• Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic (season opener): 30 days
• Ohio State at Michigan: 121 days

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