Massillon (Ohio) Washington four-star wide receiver Jayden Ballard on Saturday afternoon became the seventh Ohio State commit to announce his intentions to play in the 2021 All-American Bowl.
🤞🏽💕 pic.twitter.com/YjsSaYIwvN
— JB (@J_Ball21) May 30, 2020
The 6-2, 175-pound Ballard — who committed to the Buckeyes last June — is considered the 11th-best wide receiver and No. 68 prospect overall in the class of 2021, as he hauled in 68 passes for 1,202 yards and 18 touchdowns while helping the Tigers to the state championship game last fall.
Other commits set to participate in the All-American Bowl, which is considered the nation’s premier high school showcase, include Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep five-star quarterback Kyle McCord; Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal five-star offensive guard Donovan Jackson; Hopewell, Va., five-star running back TreVeyon Henderson; Cornelius (N.C.) Willam Amos Hough four-star running back Evan Pryor; St. Louis De Smet Jesuit four-star cornerback Jakailin Johnson; and Ironton, Ohio, four-star linebacker Reid Carrico.
Ohio State is typically well-represented at the All-American Bowl, and often leads the nation — or is near the top of the list — in the number of commits participating in the game. Next year’s game will be no different, as several of the Buckeyes’ top remaining targets have already announced their intentions to play in the game, including Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic five-star defensive tackle J.T. Tuimoloau; Steilacoom, Wash., five-star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka; Dallas (Ga.) Paulding County five-star linebacker Smael Mondon; and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star linebacker Raesjon Davis.
Ballard, meanwhile, becomes the fourth Massillon Tiger to play in a national all-star game. That list includes former Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable (2003 Army All-American Bowl), former Michigan cornerback J.T. Turner (2008 Army All-American Bowl) and former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley (2013 Under Armour All-America Game).
The 2021 All-American Bowl is set to take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 9. It will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.
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