There's no clear pecking order behind Jeremiah Smith in the Ohio State Buckeyes' receiving corps. At all. There's no WR2, WR3, so on and so forth. Everything is up in the air this spring, and presumably into fall camp and the regular season.
That's the point Land-Grant Holy Land's Cole VanWiechen drove home in grouping Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford's place in OSU's snap-count rat race this fall to be second in the pecking order.
As VanWiechen noted, the Ohio State University's offensive system -- set to be integrating Arthur Smith's input, which is typically pro-style and involves plenty of stack formations -- is complicated to learn. But for the right receivers, freshmen can get looks.
"Every year, new talent arrives capable of pushing veterans for playing time. This season, new talent comes in the form of Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford, two highly regarded freshman receivers entering the program with significant expectations," VanWiechen wrote.
"Henry, listed around 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, was one of the highest-ranked receivers in his recruiting class and brings a prototype outside receiver frame with elite catch-radius potential. Players with Henry’s size and ball skills often create immediate mismatches on the perimeter. Henry’s ability to win contested catches and stretch the field vertically could make him a particularly intriguing fit opposite Jeremiah Smith."
"Guilford arrives with a different but equally intriguing skill set. The Indiana native was also a highly regarded receiver prospect and brings a more explosive athletic profile that could translate well to both outside and slot roles. Freshman receivers rarely step immediately into starting roles at Ohio State, given the complexity of the offense and the depth of the room. But the Buckeyes’ history shows that when a young receiver is talented enough, the staff will not hesitate to play him early. If either Henry or Guilford proves ready during spring and fall camp, the WR2 battle could quickly shift."
Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford come from different walks of life
Henry and Guilford come from different worlds.
Henry was always destined to do this, with his father, Chris Henry, being an NFL receiver whose life was tragically cut short when Jr. was a toddler. CHJr. played for the Mater Dei Monarchs, a CIF Southern Section Division 1 powerhouse. He came up every step of the way for someone whose future should be the next level.
Guilford, meanwhile, comes from Fort Wayne, Indiana, having formerly played for the Northrop Bruins in the Hoosier State's Class 4A division. He doesn't exactly have typical NFL roots. Still, Guilford's commitment was a big win over IU and could be another in a long line of great Buckeyes wideouts. He's another Brian Hartline holdover who, like Henry, could benefit Ryan Day and Co. in Columbus for the next few years before furthering the OSU-to-the-NFL pipeline by not bolting for the USF Bulls.
Ohio State is a national brand because the Buckeyes can get both types of talent and mold them into big-time contributors.
We'll see how it unfolds between the two and the rest of the WR room this spring, summer, and fall.