Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has opened up on nearly losing a big-time recruit.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were able to land five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. on early national signing day, as Henry put pen to paper for Ohio State.
However, Henry — who initially committed to the Buckeyes back in July 2023 — nearly took his talents elsewhere.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day opened up on Henry's wavering commitment this week, telling Jeremy Birmingham of 97.1 The Fan that he never really doubted that Henry would end up in Columbus.
“I did, in my heart, feel like this was the right place for him,” Day said. “I feel like we have a great situation for him to come in as a freshman. There can’t be a better situation in the country with Julian [Sayin] coming back, Jeremiah [Smith] on the other side and what we have coming back."
The mere idea of Smith and Henry in the same receiving corps is absolutely terrifying, and Ohio State is also well known for its uncanny ability to develop wide receivers.
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day. Credit: Doral Chenoweth/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images."So, I think, in his mind, he knew in terms of the development and Mick (Marotti) and everything that we’re doing — it’s a little bit of a leap because we don’t have a wide receiver coach named during this time, and we’ll have to work to make sure that we get that solidified," Day added. "But in the end, obviously, we were very, very excited when he recommitted to us and was gonna sign that day.”
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Henry was also weighing the possibility of joining the Oregon Ducks, but ultimately decided to stay with the Buckeyes.
Henry is the top-ranked receiver and the 10th-ranked player overall in the class of 2026, via 247 Sports' composite rankings.
He will join a wide receiver room that not only includes Smith, but also potential breakout candidates like Brandon Inniss, Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham and Bryson Rodgers.
The Buckeyes have placed wide receivers in the first round of the NFL Draft each of the last four years, most recently doing so with Emeka Egbuka last spring. They are on track to do so again with Carnell Tate this coming April.
In the meantime, though, Ohio State is preparing to defend its national championship in the College Football Playoff.