Player to Watch: Chris Henry Jr. is the future at receiver for Ohio State

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Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Texas.

Ohio State has become the top pipeline in college football for wide receivers who have dreams of playing in the NFL. Since 2022, the Buckeyes have produced six first round draft picks, and that number will continue to grow since it’s a certainty that Jeremiah Smith will be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.

Even though wide receivers coach Brian Hartline is now the head coach at South Florida, Ryan Day brought in a top-tier replacement in former LSU wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton.

Despite committing to Ohio State back in 2023, Chris Henry Jr. had Buckeye Nation on edge for a bit when he delayed the signing of his National Letter of Intent. Some were worried that Oregon or Texas had found a way to convince the son of the late NFL wide receiver to flip his commitment.

A short time later Henry reaffirmed his commitment to Ohio State, as he looks like he’ll be the next great wide receiver to suit up in the scarlet and gray.

Henry comes to Ohio State as the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver, and the number one college football recruit coming out of California. After spending a couple years at two different high schools in the Cincinnati area, Henry transferred to Mater Dei High School in California before his junior season.

Henry’s junior season was limited to just two games after he suffered a knee injury. To close out his high school career, Henry caught 28 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns across eight games for Mater Dei.

Even though Henry didn’t have the massive stats that some would expect from the top receiving recruit in the country, he was still named a Navy All-American and selected to play in the Polynesian Bowl. Henry didn’t take long to get Ohio State fans talking, as he caught four passes for 96 yards in the spring game. The biggest highlight from Henry in April was a 40-yard touchdown catch he hauled in from quarterback Tavien St. Clair.

With Jeremiah Smith still a Buckeye for at least one more season, Henry doesn’t have to be the top option for Ohio State as a freshman. Once Henry and quarterback Julian Sayin get on the same page in actual game action, the Buckeye passing attack is going to be scary with Smith, Henry, as well as veteran Brandon Inniss running routes.

Along with both players having fathers who played in the NFL, the closest player comparison when it comes to Henry is former Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Both receivers have tremendous size, which allows them to be attractive targets all over the field, but especially in the red zone where they can out jump defensive backs.

About the only knock on Henry entering Ohio State is he weighed less than 200 pounds, although after a spring and summer in Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning program, it’s likely Henry put some muscle on, which will make him even more dangerous when it comes to battling with defenders.

With the hype Henry has coming out of high school, his play in Ohio State’s Spring Game back in April, the pedigree the Buckeyes have for developing high quality wide receivers, and the lineage Henry has, it’s hard to image the true freshman not sliding into the top receiver role next season after Smith heads to the NFL.

This year is all about getting Henry comfortable in the offense and at the college level, while also having him be an important piece on a team that has national title aspirations.

If Ohio State weren’t already convinced that Henry is the future at receiver for the Buckeyes, all they have to do is look at the endorsement from fellow wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who called Henry “The Next One”.

The combination of Smith and Henry this year is a thought that is likely keeping opposing defensive coordinators up at night, since they are both physical freaks who feel like they were born in a factory with the sole purpose of playing football.

Get ready for plenty of highlights from Henry as a Buckeye for at least the next three seasons.

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