Ohio State Strikes Big: Lands 2026 WR Commitment and Poised to Flip Former Alabama RB Commit

As the 2024 college football regular season barrels toward its conclusion, the Ohio State Buckeyes are looking to finish strong—not just on the field, but also on the recruiting trail. With just two games left in the regular season, Ohio State is in a must-win situation if they want a shot at a rematch against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game. Meanwhile, coach Ryan Day and his staff are working tirelessly to finish what has already been an impressive 2025 recruiting class, with Early Signing Day looming just two weeks away.

But the big news this weekend wasn’t confined to Ohio State’s victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field. The Buckeyes also secured a commitment from a promising young prospect for their 2026 class. In a development that could signal the start of a strong 2026 recruiting class, Jaeden Ricketts, a four-star wide receiver from Pickerington, OH, announced his commitment to Ohio State shortly after the team’s 31-7 win over the Wildcats.

Jaeden Ricketts Joins the Buckeyes

Ricketts, a 6’1″, 188-pound wide receiver from Watkins Memorial High School, is currently ranked as the No. 38 wide receiver in the country and the No. 11 player from Ohio in the 2026 class according to 247Sports. While he had several offers, most of which came from schools in the MAC, the Buckeyes were clearly impressed with Ricketts’ potential, offering him a scholarship after a standout performance at a camp visit this past June.

Ricketts’ speed is one of his strongest assets. As a track star for the Warriors, he posted an impressive 10.88 in the 100-meter dash, showcasing the kind of burst that can make him a dangerous deep threat at the college level. While he’s still early in his recruiting process, the Buckeyes seem to have landed a serious talent in Ricketts, who chose Ohio State over offers from schools like Illinois, Toledo, Bowling Green, and Akron.

Ricketts, who is also building a bond with fellow 2026 commit Chris Henry Jr., is excited about his decision to join the Buckeyes and has already started to build relationships with his future teammates. “We worked at a camp together and we’re kind of building on our relationship,” Ricketts told Lettermen Row. “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.”

With Henry Jr. already in the fold, Ricketts could be the first of many wide receiver commitments for Ohio State in the 2026 cycle. Brian Hartline, Ohio State’s ace recruiter for wide receivers, has been known for finding hidden gems, and Ricketts may be the latest example of his talent evaluation skills.

Ohio State’s 2025 Class: On the Verge of a Big Flip?

The 2025 recruiting cycle is also heating up, and the Buckeyes appear to be closing in on a big win as they pursue Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, a four-star running back out of Montgomery, Alabama. Rogers, the No. 8 RB and No. 141 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, had been committed to Alabama since June 2023. However, things started to shift last weekend when On3’s Steve Wiltfong logged an expert prediction for Ohio State to flip Rogers from the Crimson Tide.

Less than an hour after that prediction, Rogers officially de-committed from Alabama, announcing that he would choose between Ohio State and Georgia on Signing Day. This marks a significant development in the recruitment of Rogers, who visited Ohio State for the Purdue game last weekend and now seems to be leaning heavily toward the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes already have two running backs in their 2025 class—Bo Jackson and Isaiah West—but adding a third back like Rogers would be a huge win for Carlos Locklyn and the Ohio State coaching staff. With the running back position one of the most competitive on the recruiting trail, securing a commitment from Rogers would give the Buckeyes an embarrassment of riches at the position.

Ohio State Faces Potential Setback: LB Tarvos Alford Flip Watch

However, it’s not all good news for Ohio State this weekend. As the Buckeyes work hard to finalize their 2025 class, they face a potential setback with one of their own commits. Tarvos “TJ” Alford, a four-star linebacker from Ohio, is reportedly considering a flip to the Miami Hurricanes, with Steve Wiltfong of On3 logging an expert prediction** in favor of the move.

Alford, the No. 9 linebacker in the country, has been a key piece of Ohio State’s 2025 class, which also features Riley Pettijohn and Eli Lee. But the Hurricanes have been relentless in their pursuit of Alford, and the in-state recruit is reportedly weighing his options. This could be a significant blow for Ohio State’s linebacker haul if they lose Alford, especially considering his high national ranking and the fact that he has been a strong commitment for much of the cycle.

Conclusion: A Critical Stretch for Ohio State

As Ohio State heads into the final stretch of the 2024 season, everything is ramping up for Ryan Day and his staff—on both the field and the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes are in the midst of a heated battle for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth, but they’re also making major strides in their 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes.

With Jaeden Ricketts now in the fold for 2026, and Anthony Rogers potentially joining the 2025 class, Ohio State is looking to bolster its already strong roster. However, the possibility of losing a top commit like Tarvos Alford to Miami is a reminder that recruiting is an unpredictable game, where momentum can shift quickly.

As Early Signing Day approaches, it’s clear that Ohio State’s future is bright—but they’ll need to continue pushing to secure key commitments and avoid losing ground to their rivals. This critical period could shape the Buckeyes’ roster for years to come, both on the field and in the recruiting offices.