In-state wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline has added another weapon to the Buckeyes receiver room. Additionally, this comes from inside the state of Ohio.
2026 three-star Pataskala (Ohio) Watkins Memorial wide receiver Jaeden Ricketts has committed to Ohio State. The 6-foot, 187-pound wideout committed to the Buckeyes over Illinois and multiple Mid-American Conference programs.
Ohio State offered Ricketts following a strong camp performance in June. He has been building his relationship with Brian Hartline for almost two years, however.
“I love Coach Hartline,” Ricketts told Lettermen Row. “He’s the man, you already know how that goes. Just want to keep on building on that.”
Ricketts joins Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. in the Buckeyes 2026 class. He and Henry have steadily been building their relationship since the summer.
“We worked at a camp together and we’re kind of building on our relationship,” Ricketts said. “We’re not really tight like that, but I know he could be my future teammate and I want to build that relationship with him.”
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Ricketts visited Ohio State on Oct. 5 for the Iowa game. He was also inside the ‘Shoe for the season opener against Akron.
“It’s a great feeling to be like, ‘Dang, this could really be home’ and I can really grow around these guys and become the best player that I can be,” Ricketts said.
“The team came out and executed pretty well. It was pretty nice getting back, meeting up with all the coaches again and continuing to build on that relationship. I think it’s going pretty well and I’m starting to really love the school.”
Ricketts is the third in-state commitment for Brain Hartline since being named Ohio State’s wide receivers coach. The Buckeyes signed Jayden Ballard out of Massillon (Ohio) Washington in the 2021 class and have three-star Mansfield (Ohio) Ontario standout Bodpegn Miller committed in 2025.
