In July 2023, Chris Henry Jr., a five-star wide receiver from Withrow High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes for the 2026 recruiting class. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 185 pounds, Henry Jr. is renowned for his exceptional ball awareness, deep ball tracking, and fluid route running. His commitment was a significant coup for Ohio State, as he had also considered offers from Georgia, Clemson, and USC. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/38095099/chris-henry-jr-son-late-nfl-receiver-picks-ohio-state?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Henry Jr. is the son of the late NFL wide receiver Chris Henry and the adopted son of former NFL cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. His father, Chris Henry Sr., tragically passed away in 2009. Jones, a close friend and teammate of Chris Henry Sr. at West Virginia, has been a guiding figure in Henry Jr.’s life. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/38095099/chris-henry-jr-son-late-nfl-receiver-picks-ohio-state?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
During his sophomore season at Withrow High School, Henry Jr. set a school record with 1,127 receiving yards on 71 catches, accompanied by 10 touchdowns. This performance earned him First-Team All-State honors. ([on3.com](https://www.on3.com/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes/news/ohio-state-football-recruiting-2026-wide-receiver-commit-chris-henry-jr-top-ranked-wideout-brian-hartline/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
In October 2024, while playing for Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Henry Jr. suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He expressed optimism about his recovery, stating he expected to be back to full strength by March or April 2025. ([si.com](https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/news/ohio-state-buckeyes-5-star-chris-henry-jr-commit-injury?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Henry Jr.’s commitment to Ohio State adds to the university’s legacy of developing elite wide receivers, following the success of players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Olave. His decision underscores the strong recruiting efforts of head coach Ryan Day and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, who have been instrumental in attracting top-tier talent to the program. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/38095099/chris-henry-jr-son-late-nfl-receiver-picks-ohio-state?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
As Henry Jr. continues his recovery and development, his future with the Buckeyes remains promising. His combination of size, speed, and ball skills positions him to make a significant impact upon his arrival at Ohio State. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how he will contribute to the team’s success in the coming years.
