Buckeyes' Wide Receiver Chris Henry Jr. Quest to be "Next Up" Starts Saturday

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The Ohio State Buckeyes 2026 team actually has a major question mark at the wide receiver position. For the first time in a long time, the Buckeyes don't have more than one bona fide superstar in that room.

Now, that comes after Jeremiah Smith, who is the best player in college football and likely the best receiver in college football since maybe Julio Jones in the mid-2000s.

Receivers two through five are roles that are unfilled, leaving the door open for someone to burst through and take it. That someone could, and should, be true freshman Chris Henry Jr.

The Buckeyes have operated in a very intentional way with that room over the last year. They let two five-star players walk who ultimately ended up at Notre Dame. Then, they opened the door to two transfers who were both veteran players but completely unproven at the high level of FBS football.

They put a lot of their investment into the young wide receivers, especially the crowned jewel of the 2026 recruiting class, Chris Henry Jr.

He was a five-star recruit, the No. 2-ranked receiver, the No. 2-ranked player in California, and the No. 24-ranked player in the entire country. He is a legitimate star, and his impact could be felt as early as Saturday. 

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Rewind three seasons to the Buckeyes opener against the Akron Zips in 2024. That game ended in a total blowout for the Buckeyes, but it was the Jeremiah Smith show in Columbus. Smith dropped the first pass of the day (a screen pass that would have gone for a touchdown), but then he settled in to the tune of six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

That was the very first game of his career. 

I'm hoping to see something very similar on Saturday against the Ball State Cardinals for Henry Jr. 

The conversation surrounding this wide receiver room has been very loud, and rightfully so, around Devin McCuin and Brock Boyd, with just whispers of Henry Jr. The three-year plan for him is to take over for Smith and become the next high first-round Buckeye wide receiver.

To do that, it would take him becoming the Buckeyes wide receiver No. 2 this season and a true Robin to Jeremiah's Batman.

In the big picture, that would be a game changer for the Buckeyes' offense. Not only would it open up the field for quarterback Julian Sayin, but it would also relieve all pressure on the slot receivers. 

With all of the attention that Smith will garner this year, Chris Henry Jr. has serious potential to burst through the door to become the second option in the Buckeyes' passing game. 

More importantly, he will take the torch from Jeremiah Smith as the next great Ohio State wide receiver.

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