4 receiver, No. The responses of who would start and at which position: Power forward: Kyle McCord or Reid Carrico. Gets off the ground quickly and attacks passes at their highest point. If I do make a mistake, I get better from there.. It sounds like improved route-running could be the final piece for this talented speedster, which is something Olave mentioned during his time at the NFL scouting combine, and Ballard himself alluded to after a recent practice. and will push me hard.. He seems to be the forgotten wid receiver. Harrison had already served notice of his arrival last spring and in preseason camp, then capped his freshman season with a huge Rose Bowl performance. But well see. That presumption turned out to be accurate, but that doesnt mean this recruitment was always a sure thing for Ohio State. Overall Rating: 78.8 / 100. A member of the Ohio MaxPreps All-State team, Ballard was a big part of the Tigers three-straight appearances in Division II state title games, including a 150-yard, three-touchdown performance against Perry in the regional finals. Redshirt freshman receiver Jayden Ballard (10) was recognized as one of Ohio State's most improved players of the offseason.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com. Yet he also does not want to be labeled as merely a deep threat. Long-strider with solid timed speed. They all know it, too, says he has Chrisman as the enforcer, the bruiser and that TreVeyon Henderson would likely be the sixth man. News never stops. He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete who is majoring in sport coaching, rec and physical education He is 6'2" - 175 lbs. 2021: OSU Scholar-Athlete, More on Jayden The wide receiver room within the Ohio State football program is overflowing with talent. So theres always a lot of talk going on about that., Point guard: Jordan Hancock or Evan Pryor. As a freshman, Ballard played in three games and had one reception for four yards from backup quarterback Kyle McCord against Akron. Through four games, Ballard is averaging 14.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals, which includes a pair of double-doubles, one of which came against Ben Christmans Revere Minutemen (though Christman is not playing prior to enrolling early himself). Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onOhio State Buckeyes and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. It certainly wont be easy for Ballard to crack the lineup. B1G WBB Week 10: Indiana and Maryland battle, Ohio State shines in award predictions, A larger coaching role should lead to a larger recruiting role for Brian Hartline and Ohio State, Why is this News? Massillon (Ohio) Washington Top247 receiver Jayden Ballard was awarded his jersey to play in the All-American Bowl this week. Still needs to builk up, but is well developed in his lower body. Twitter: @J_Ball21 Helped his team with 10 straight games during the 2020 season and advance to the Division II state championship game So now its time to go put it on the field.. We really like the way Jayden Ballards come on, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. Fresh cotton and other wares at Eleven Warriors Dry Goods. Jayden was rated as the number eight wide receiver in the country, and the number three overall player in the Buckeye State. Jayden Ballard is a gifted athlete, and it is just a matter of time before he makes a name for himself in the Ohio State football program. Tracks the ball well in the air and wins in contested situations. Long-strider with solid timed speed. As the No. and plays Wide Receiver. I think Ben would be a great center with his big body down there. On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media, Inc. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson have become household names, while younger receivers hope to have the same fate. Is Jayden Ballard a sleeping giant for the Ohio State football team? Im looking forward to just having fun, Ballard said of the upcoming experience. Column: The Urban Meyer NFL experiment was an even bigger disaster than we realized, Ohio State Recruiting 2016: Everything You Need To Know, Ohio State Recruiting 2015: Everything You Need To Know, The Columbus Dispatchs Bill Rabinowitz compared him to Devin Smith, Day referenced Ballards big-play ability. Spring goals include rounding out his short and intermediate game. Coming off a terrific spring and is among the next wave of talented receivers coming through Ohio State Today we feature Jayden Ballard from Washington High School in Massillon, OH. Ballard also stepped back to return punts and was aggressive with defensive backs on running plays. A member of the Ohio MaxPreps All-State team Jayden Ballard Excited for Pretty Dangerous Receiver Group, Finding Out Basketball Starting Five Among 2021 Signees, Bucks in Desperate Need of Win At Nebraska, Offense Sputters for Second Straight Game, Former Oregon State Quarterback Tristan Gebbia Transferring to Ohio State, Ohio State Captain Kamryn Babb Wont Use Final Year of Eligibility: "I Am Excited to Start the Next Chapter That God Has For Me". So what has he done since December to draw such praise from a soon-to-be first-round NFL Draft pick? He's been working hard, and now he has been welcomed into the brotherhood as a member . Ballard makes the two-hour trip south from Massillon to Columbus as the nations No. In that opener, Ballard poured in a team-high 16 points while adding eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in a 78-73 loss. I feel more confident, Ballard said. Shows fluidity in his route running. Massillon relied heavily on the run game and a strong defensive effort, recording three interceptions and scoring all four TDs on the ground. From zero coaching experience, to filling the job as an. Has good height. "It was very. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. So me and Jayden are definitely up there.. But if it were up to the redshirt freshman from Massillon, he would have been grabbing lunch or shooting hoops and letting someone else handle the interviews. During the Buckeye Bash, Sawyer played against Pryor, Henderson and Tyleik Williams in King of the Court at a park near his home in Pickerington during the Buckeye Bash. National Avg Rating: 93.7 ? Im not afraid to make a mistake. They were excited and my mom was crying she was so excited. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is sidelined with an left leg injury and has not seen the field since recording one reception on two targets in the first quarter. A lot of things in football are situational, but he (Ballard) still led us in receiving, Massillon head coach Nate Moore said. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Youre Nuts: Who will replace C.J. School Washington High School. Jack was one of the few guys who actually played in high school, McCord said. Massillon (Ohio) Washington Top247 receiver Jayden Ballard was awarded his jersey to play in the All-American Bowl this week. Thats not a valid source. Hes 6-3, probably like 200 pounds now and he has that body frame. The Buckeyes have the luxury of returning both of last years starting wide receivers in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, who come into the 2021 season as likely the best duo in the country. He is a 4-star recruit according. The Buckeyes and defensive line coach Larry Johnson look to be a major player for a top five prospect in the 2024 class. I think our class is one of the best classes to be put together, Ballard said before going into what made OSU right for him. Ohios fifth-ranked 2021 prospect and the nations 22nd-ranked receiver, Ballard is a 6-foot-2, 170-pound two-sport star at Massillon Washington High School. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said strength coach Mickey Marotti and his staff recognized Ballard with one of the teams most improved awards at the pre-spring champions banquet. Jayden Ballard. (Our relationship is) really strong. Ballard makes the two-hour trip south from Massillon to Columbus as the nation's No. With the way Ohio State has been recruiting the wide receiver position these past few years, even some of the programs high four-star prospects can get lost in the shuffle. What Melton, Stover tell us about footballs defense, The defenses new position could help new stars emerge: Lesmerises. Ballard brings an explosive athletic skillset to the table in the Buckeyes 2021 class, and he showcases that each time he takes the court, which he says has been very helpful in improving his hand-eye coordination as a receiver. That being the case, now is a great time to introduce you to Ohio States incredibly talented freshman class. As an independent site, we're committed to delivering Buckeye fans the news and analysis they deserve, all while remaining free. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Jayden Ballard starred at Massillon Washington High School before becoming a Buckeye, just as Devin Smith did before him. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Ballard is tabbed by the Top247 as the nations No. Follow on Social Media 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Following that Friday afternoon interview, Ballard said he was set to play in Massillon Washingtons season opener against Ashland as hes getting in a few games before Ohio State., Talk to me nice !! Drawing a comparison to star NFL wide receiver Chris Godwin and getting early projections as a potential future Day 2 NFL Draft pick, here is what 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had to say of Ballards abilities: Has good height. Ballard is Ohio States third commitment in the Class of 2021 and the first receiver committed in that class. Especially when you play in such a talent-rich region, hauling in the local guys is of large importance. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Land-Grant Holy Land, an Ohio State Buckeyes community, Ohio State five-star DL target to commit this month. Coach (Ryan) Day and Coach (Brian) Hartline and the environment and how the fans support you. While he continues to round into shape, Ballards underlying physical skills are drawing attention as well. You can get a small glimpse of everything Ballard brings to the table in his junior highlight film: As previously mentioned, Ballard gives Ohio State each of the top four in-state players in the 2021 cycle, with only Jack Sawyer, Mike Hall and Reid Carrico ranking ahead of him. Go Bucks! Instagram: @jbbb.9, Ohio State Overview Became Massillons all-time leader in career receiving yards and touchdown receptions in 2020 2023 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Stay tuned to BuckeyesNow and all of our social media outlets (@BuckeyesNowSI) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for continued coverage! Five-star DL from Florida has Ohio State easily top two in his recruitment. Odds & lines subject to change. The Buckeyes and defensive line coach Larry Johnson look to be a major player for a top five prospect in the 2024 class. Im just trying to compete, Ballard said. Routes become crisper. Over 20,000 fans attend annually with a more TV viewers then any other all-star game combined. Has the potential to develop into and NFL prospect. I think I fit in well, just have to work hard and be the best I can be at my position.. Despite being a top-100 player in his recruiting class, Ballard has not always been hyped up like some of his WR peers. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. OSU was the first school to offer Ballard, and he has been 100% committed ever since. 8 receiver in the country out of Massillon Washington High School, catching 25 touchdown passes over his final two high school seasons. So if you (we) havent done so already, it sounds like its time to raise your expectations for this redshirt freshman. Again, not taking away from any of these guys potential to be just that, but Ballard has been billed as the potential next version of those former Buckeye greats. And as for Sawyer leaving Harrison off his list? (Hes) no B.S. He became Massillons all-time leader in both receiving yards and touchdowns during his senior season, he has incredible talent that Head Coach Ryan Day and WR Coach Brian Hartline could not ignore. And while Harrison and Egbuka continue to receive most of the attention, Ballard is working to become a better player. Eleven Warriors is where Ohio State fans gather. Ballard begins to feel and look less like a freshman, both to himself and the players and coaches around him. Egbuka has an Olave/Wilson-esque ceiling, and I will go to my grave holding Fleming stock but where is the Terry Glenn/Devin Smith-type deep ball specialist? 4 Mos for $1.00 $39.96 Jayden Ballard: 4-star 2021 wide receiver commits to Ohio State Jeremy Birmingham 06/21/19 COLUMBUS The Buckeyes have landed a commitment from one of Ohio's best athletes. Well, the roster still says hes 6-2, 195 pounds, but he concurs with Olaves assessment of his physical progress. Just three months later, he had proven to himself and to Brian Hartline that he was ready for the next step and earned his spot in the Buckeyes 2021 class. Get the latest Ohio State Buckeyes merchandise: Heres where you can order Ohio State football gear online, including jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and much more. Minutes on the field will have to be earned, but four-star freshman Jayden Ballard will be up for the task. Jayden Ballard working out at Ohio State in June of 2018. (Kyle) can really shoot. Stroud as Ohio States quarterback? Good athlete who also excels on the basketball court. Ballard left no room for anyone to question his affinity for the hometown team, and he committed to the Buckeyes all the way back in June of 2019 before finally signing his official letter of intent this past December. 15 wideout and the No. We all know he has the speed and he can run probably the fastest on the team right now, but the route-running ability hes improved on since last year.. He could probably play for the Ohio State basketball team if he wanted to. Chris Olave says he thinks Marvin Harrison Jr. is gonna have a huge year this year.He also expects Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and Jayden Ballard to step up for Ohio State at wide receiver.Olave described both Harrisons work ethic and Ballards speed as off the charts. pic.twitter.com/HiH0AvhSKM. During a recent spring practice, Day referenced Ballards big-play ability and also mentioned the wideout being a recipient of a most improved award from the strength staff. To him, the legacy he. Im used to getting pushed so that helps. As a top-100 national prospect, Ballard only collected around seven scholarship offers during the recruiting process due to his early commitment to Ohio State. Five-star DL from Florida has Ohio State easily top two in his recruitment. They did just that. But as Buckeye fans, we should just be excited about his development and potential, along with the rest of the wide receivers. He totaled one reception for four yards as a third-string option. 1 receiver at a place as loaded at the position group like Ohio State is. Offensive news from spring camp opener: Podcast, Was Georgias defense enhanced by combine? Every scholarship receiver had a table to himself in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Teens with two mothers less likely to drink alcohol Same-Sex parents are most likely to have adoption as their first choice Homosexual parents do not alter the child's Hes a great receiver as well. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Position group like Ohio State football team, is based on individual commentators and. Well in the Buckeye State, including picks and jayden ballard parents, is based on commentators... Buckeye, just have to be earned, but that doesnt mean this recruitment was always a of. 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