Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. became one of the first players to join Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class when he committed back in 2023. Unlike many recruits who continue to entertain other programs, Henry stayed fully committed to the Buckeyes.
He was introduced as an Ohio State commit during Mater Dei High School’s signing ceremony, but he decided to stay unsigned.
Jeremiah Smith Steps In With a Call for Chris Henry Jr. to Seal the Deal
Some reports surfaced on Wednesday claiming that Henry had officially signed with Ohio State, giving Buckeye fans a brief moment of relief amid rumors he might flip. However, those claims were quickly debunked when it became clear he hadn’t signed, and Henry himself confirmed that news with a tweet.
“I have not signed yet. Still trying to weigh my options due to coaching changes, I just want to make the right decision for my future. God’s plan,” Henry tweeted.
Jeremiah Smith wasted no time publicly urging Henry to stick with Ohio State and finalize his commitment.
“WE NEED YOU!!!!????,” Smith tweeted.
Henry is reassessing his situation following the announcement that Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will be leaving to become USF’s head coach. Hartline has been a major recruiting force for the Buckeyes, and so his departure has caused uncertainty.
247Sports’ Tom Loy shared an immediate update on Henry’s delayed signing.
“He is weighing options, according to him, at both Oregon and USC,” Loy said. “He’s truly trying to find the best fit for him. This Brian Hartline thing really shook things up. We are watching Oregon and USC right now.
“He’s still committed to them (Ohio State), but he hasn’t signed the paperwork, and he hasn’t sent it in. So I think he’s just taking a step back. Maybe talk to Ryan Day, maybe talk to GM Mark Pantoni, all of those guys that do a great job in Columbus, see what the future looks like, go from there.”
Oregon has a strong pitch, with Henry’s former Mater Dei teammates Jordon Davison and Nasir Wyatt already on the Ducks’ roster. Besides that, Oregon wide receiver Dakorien Moore is also actively recruiting Henry to Eugene.
Meanwhile, USC is also in the mix, especially after Henry’s teammate Kayden Dixon-Wyatt flipped from Ohio State to USC shortly after the Hartline news. Even the Trojans’ defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart also sent a recruiting pitch to Henry on Wednesday.
There have even been reports that Texas remains a program to watch in Henry’s recruitment. If any of these schools manage to flip Henry, it would mark Ohio State’s biggest recruiting blow in the 2026 class, as he is the No. 1 wide receiver in the cycle.
Ohio State is No. 1 in the PFSN College Football Playoff Ranking and is now preparing for its upcoming Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana on Saturday.