Ohio State WR Jayden Ballard Garnering Buzz in Spring Ball

After just one catch for four yards his first year in Columbus, Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jayden Ballard averaged 19.4 yards per catch last season.

Author:
Casey Smith
Mar 28, 2023 11:29 AM EDT

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Ohio State Buckeyes

On March 9, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline tweeted three pictures — two from 247Sports and one from Pro Football Focus on the top returning wide receivers in college football for the 2021-23 seasons.

All three featured Buckeyes at the top of the list, and Hartline reiterated that the 2023 list, which already featured second-years Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, was "missing 1 in the top 10."

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jayden Ballard has generated some buzz in the offseason and could be a viable No. 3 pass-catching option next season, and he talked on March 9 about what he wanted to improve on this offseason.

"I'm going to work basically on my whole route tree," Ballard said. "Obviously, growing that instead of being just a deep threat."

Ballard, who said he looked up to former Buckeyes wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, added that footwork was a key part of his work in the offseason.

"Like the top of the route, our shin angle and just coming out of our curls and hooks and stuff like that, instead of going on a straight deep ball," Ballard said.

Harrison said Ballard told him he was nervous before Ohio State's Pro Day Wednesday, but he showed his speed, agility and route-running skills in front of NFL scouts, hauling in a deep ball to end quarterback C.J. Stroud's throwing session.

Ballard did the same at Ohio State's scrimmage Saturday, beating cornerback Jordan Hancock on a double-move, go route for a 50-yard touchdown.

Head coach Ryan Day said Saturday that Ballard "has to" be ready to make an impact this season.

“This is it for JB. He knows that this is his time,” head coach Ryan Day said. “Came in with some really talented guys, but he's talented too. You can see his speed, you can see his change in direction. Even at the workout the other day, I mean he caught a lot of people's eyes. So he has the ability and hopefully if he can continue to make plays like he did today, then he can start producing for us.”

Ballard has nine catches for 159 yards and one touchdown in his career.

"His play speed's got to continue to grow, got some of the best hands on the team," Hartline said. "His routes got to continue to grow. His body language is continuing to grow. The game within the game's got to continue to grow. There's still a lot of growth there, but he literally has not taken steps back. Where some guys take a step forward, two steps back, he hasn't done that."

Harrison called Ballard one of the "most naturally talented people" on the Buckeyes' roster and that the "sky's the limit for him" next season.

"He's big, he's fast, he's strong," Harrison said. "His routes are getting so much better than when he first came in here, so he has the full package. I definitely think he can be one of the three, four, five guys we have in the rotation."