"They want me to come there": Late NFL legend's son and 5-star Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. reveals Oregon's pitch to flip him

By Maliha

Modified Oct 30, 2024 13:54 GMT

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Five-Star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., son of former West Virginia and Cincinnati Bengals legend Chris Henry, received an early offer from Ohio State two years ago and gave his commitment to the school last year. However, Dan Lanning's Oregon remains steady in pursuit of the 2026 class prospect for a potential flip.

Speaking with Scoop Ducks' Max Torres, Henry revealed Lanning and wide receivers coach Junior Adams' constant communication with him, saying:

"I talk to coach Adams and coach Lanning all the time. I still have a great relationship with them. They let me know every time that they want me to come there. It’s a lot of love there."

This season, Henry transferred to the powerhouse program Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California, marking his second transfer after previously attending Withrow High School in Cincinnati and West Clermont High School as a freshman. However, his season was cut short due to a knee injury suffered in a game against Bishop Gorman on Sept. 6, ruling him out for the remainder of his junior season.

Henry is ranked by Rivals as the nation's No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class, the top wide receiver and also the top recruit in California.

Analysts provide takes on Chris Henry Jr.'s Oregon pitch

Chris Henry Jr. is the first and only committed player in Ohio State's 2026 recruiting class. Since his pledge last year, coach Ryan Day couldn’t manage to earn any commitment in this cycle. Chad Simmons, On3's director of recruiting, weighed in on the recruiting landscape surrounding Henry on Friday, saying:

“If there’s one school to watch I see as a competition for Ohio State right now, that’s the University of Oregon.”

However, Henry’s family ties to Ohio State will make it difficult for him to consider flipping. His sister, Seini Henry, committed to the school's basketball program last year. This relationship might be a crucial factor in keeping Henry’s commitment intact.

Ohio State is also positioning itself to secure additional top recruits in the 2026 cycle. The school is heavily favored to land five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine giving it a 51% chance of earning his commitment. Adding Curtis would boost Ohio State’s recruiting appeal, especially for top receivers like Henry.

The Buckeyes are also targeting four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, another elite talent from Mater Dei who could strengthen the program's receiver room.