Buckeyes in the NFL, Week Five: Big Hank's Breakout Year

Last year, Pittsburgh's Cam Heyward made the leap from reserve role to starter and put together a season that created Pro Bowl expectations.

This year's version of Heyward – the honorary award for breakout Buckeye, in other words – might be Johnathan Hankins. Through five games, Hankins has 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks. 

If anything, that first full sack of the season was timely. With 4:40 left and a fourth-and-one at their own 29, the Falcons decided to go for it. According to the New York Times'
"Fourth Down Bot," it wasn't a gamble, but is there an equation which can account for a dominant force, such as Hankins? If there is, Atlanta coach Mike Smith didn't have it – Hankins rumbled past Falcons left guard Harland Gunn and brought down quarterback Matt Ryan.

"That felt good," Hankins told the Asbury Park Press, following the game. "After I got the sack there was so much emotion. I was excited, so I didn’t know what to do. I was running. I was slapping myself in the head. I had (a dance) planned, but at the time, I couldn’t put it on."

Boone Publicly Backs Harbaugh 

In a rare case of a Buckeye staunchly defending a Michigan Man, Alex Boone attacked those reporting on the state of the 49ers locker room.

In his weekly radio interview with The Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game, Boone backed head coach Jim Harbaugh amid multiple media reports about Harbaugh's job security and dissension within his team. 

"He’s a great guy, a great coach. How could you not want to win for a guy that wears cleats during a game?” Boone said. “Here’s my problem with all this: if you’re not in our locker room, then keep the 49ers name out of your mouth, because you have no idea what goes on in our locker room."

While his play hasn't been particularly inspiring this season, Boone's words have been. Check out his full comments on the "turmoil" here:

Mewhort, Ebner Battling Injuries

The injuries are starting to pile up for the Buckeyes in the NFL. Pittsburgh's Ryan Shazier missed another week due to his sprained knee and two more Buckeyes sat out Sunday. 

Colts starting left guard Jack Mewhort reportedly suffered an ankle injury in last week's win over the Titans and did not play in Sunday's victory against the Ravens. He didn't participate in practice, Wednesday, and was ruled out for Sunday by head coach Chuck Pagano after practice ended.

Meanwhile, Patriots' special teams ace and utility defender Nate Ebner did not practice this week due to a finger injury. He was inactive for Sunday night's win over the Bengals.

Play of the Week

Yes, Philly Brown is still returning punts for the Panthers. Yes, he muffed another one, Sunday. It wasn't his fault, however.

While attempting to catch a punt in the first quarter, Bears gunner Teddy Williams flagrantly blasted Brown before he had a chance to field it cleanly. Urban Meyer and Mickey Marotti taught him to always bring the "juice," so Brown rose, picked up the loose football and ran it 79 yards for a touchdown (via Fansided):

How They Fared in Week Five