\n Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State\u2019s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall. <\/p>\n
\n\tJaeden Ricketts always wanted to be a Buckeye, growing up an Ohio State fan and attending as many games as possible after OSU started recruiting him. When the Buckeyes gave the Pataskala product an offer, he couldn’t turn it down.\n<\/p>\n
\t\tJaeden Ricketts<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSize:\u00a05-11\/201<\/p>\n
\t\t\tPosition:\u00a0WR<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSchool:\u00a0Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)<\/p>\n
\t\t\t247 Sports Composite: \u2605\u2605\u2605<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\tComposite Rank: #552 (#75\u00a0WR)<\/p>\n \tBackground<\/p>\n \n\tGrowing up just 25 miles away from campus, Ricketts earned an Ohio State offer in June\u00a02024 following an impressive display at a high school football\u00a0camp.\n<\/p>\n \n\tIn what was a very quiet recruitment, the wideout was a frequent visitor at Ohio State, attending\u00a0as many OSU home games as possible in 2024 and 2025.\u00a0Ricketts\u00a0committed to the Buckeyes<\/a> on Nov. 16, 2024. He didn’t hold a 247Sports composite ranking at the time and held only\u00a0eight other Division I offers: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Illinois, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio and Toledo.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tClass of 2026 receiver Jaeden Ricketts was a Top Performer for @247Sports<\/a> during the @BOTMWCombine<\/a> on Monday in Noblesville.<\/p>\n Big, strong, physical and he can fly: https:\/\/t.co\/bOzmK1fc74<\/a> @SWiltfong247<\/a> @MickWalker247 @AllenTrieu<\/a> @JaedenRicketts2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CLgtViAlCG<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) February 20, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tRicketts had\u00a028 catches for 542 yards and six touchdowns as a junior at Watkins Material. In his final high school season, Ricketts totaled 32 receptions for 498 yards and nine touchdowns.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\tOhio State wide receiver commit Jaeden Ricketts runs for a 15-yard touchdown to give Watkins Memorial a 7-0 first-quarter lead over Worthington Kilbourne. pic.twitter.com\/KtxaBNhraV<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n \t\u2014 Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tOff the field, Ricketts showcased his speed on the track. He placed fourth at the Ohio high school track and field championships with a 10.50-second 100-meter dash in 2025. He also ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and a 22.19-second 200-meter dash in high school.\n<\/p>\n \tScouting Report<\/p>\n \n\tThe two things Ricketts is known for, at least currently, are his speed and ball skills. The 5-11, 201-pounder can glide past opposing defensive backs and make a play for the ball, even if it is a little off target.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAs a slot receiver, he can create mismatches with his speed and route-running ability. His quickness off the line and ability to use his hands against press coverage allow him to find open windows early on and attack multiple coverages. When he gets the ball in his hands, Ricketts uses his speed to make plays, with an ability to create a big-time play at any moment of a game.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat said, Ricketts\u00a0must develop physically and become a better perimeter blocker before he\u2019ll earn a consistent role in Ohio State\u2019s offense.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \tDepth Chart Outlook<\/p>\n \n\tAt 5-11, Ricketts projects as a slot receiver for Ohio State. With that, he faces steep competition for playing time to start his Buckeye career. Brandon Inniss returns as Ohio State\u2019s starting slot receiver for 2026, while offseason transfer additions Kyle Parker and Devin McCuin, sophomore De\u2019zie Jones and fellow freshman Brock Boyd are also candidates to play in the slot.\n<\/p>\n \n\tWhile Ricketts certainly has the speed to be a dynamic playmaker in the slot, he\u2019ll have to impress with his development and practice performance to climb his way to the top of a depth chart that projects to be loaded for years to come as the Buckeyes continue to stockpile five-star recruits<\/a> at his position.\n<\/p>\n \tPlayer Comparison: Parris Campbell<\/p>\n \n\tParris Campbell didn’t record a single reception during his first two seasons at Ohio State, playing in nine games during that span.\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat said, he gained more playing time and his stats increased in each of his final three seasons in Columbus, eventually becoming a 1,000-yard wide receiver for OSU as a fifth-year senior.\n<\/p>\n \n\tCampbell had 13 catches for 121 yards as a redshirt sophomore and\u00a040 receptions for 584 yards and three touchdowns as a fourth-year player. As a redshirt senior in 2018, Campbell\u00a0caught 90 passes \u2013 a school record at the time \u2013\u00a0for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added 23 carries for 210 yards and two touchdowns during his final three seasons at Ohio State.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAfter five years at Ohio State, Campbell was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He totaled 123 catches (179 targets) for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns in 50 games (27 starts) during his NFL career before retiring from the NFL in May.\n<\/p>\n \n\tAt 6-1 and 208 pounds, Campbell\u00a0utilized his elite speed to maximize his effectiveness as a playmaker, just as Ricketts will look to do for the Buckeyes.\u00a0While Ricketts\u00a0having a 1,000-yard season at Ohio State\u00a0like Campbell could be a tough task with the amount of talent he has around him in Ohio State\u2019s receiver room, Campbell\u2019s career progression provides a blueprint for\u00a0Ricketts to become an impact player if he doesn\u2019t play much early in his career.\n<\/p>\n