Chris Henry Jr., the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver recruit, made it official Friday morning: he’s sticking with his commitment to Ohio State. The five-star talent announced his decision on The Pat McAfee Show, ending a brief wave of speculation after a social media post earlier in the week suggested he might be reconsidering.
Let’s be clear-this is a massive win for the Buckeyes.
Henry Jr. is more than just a headline recruit. He’s the son of the late Chris Henry, the former Cincinnati Bengals wideout who brought electric playmaking to the NFL before his life was tragically cut short. Now, his son is carving out his own path, and it’s already an impressive one.
After beginning his high school career at West Clermont, Henry Jr. transferred to Withrow, where he didn’t just make an impact-he rewrote the record books. He posted 1,127 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in a single season, leading Withrow to its first-ever Division II regional final.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a reflection of elite route-running, strong hands, and a football IQ that’s well beyond his years.
This past season, Henry Jr. took his talents to Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California-a national powerhouse that routinely churns out top-tier college and NFL talent. The move wasn’t just about exposure; it was about sharpening his game against the best competition high school football has to offer. And he held his own.
But earlier this week, things got interesting. After Ohio State offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline accepted the head coaching job at South Florida, Henry Jr. took to X (formerly Twitter) to say he hadn’t signed his paperwork yet.
That opened the door for speculation, especially with schools like Oregon and USC still in the mix. Both programs had been pushing hard, hoping to flip the star receiver at the eleventh hour.
Instead, Henry Jr. doubled down on his commitment to Columbus.
And it’s not just football pulling him to Ohio State. His sister, Seini, is already on campus as a redshirt freshman on the women’s basketball team.
Their younger brother, DeMarcus, is a rising basketball prospect in the class of 2027 with nine high-major offers already on the table. The Henry family is building something special-and Ohio State is right at the center of it.
For the Buckeyes, landing Henry Jr. is about more than just adding another five-star to the depth chart. It’s a statement that their wide receiver pipeline remains as strong as ever, even amid coaching changes. With his size, speed, and polish, Henry Jr. projects as the next great playmaker in a lineage that includes names like Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
He’s not just coming to Ohio State to follow in their footsteps-he’s coming to leave his own mark.