This has been a wild early signing period for the Ohio State football program. Brian Hartline decided to take the head coaching job at South Florida on Early Signing Day, throwing the class into chaos. One receiver flipped to USC, while two others were unsure about their futures with the Buckeyes.
Ultimately, Jerquaden Guilford decided to sign with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Landing the four-star receiver was great, but he wasn't viewed as the crown jewel of the class. Five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr. is, and he has been committed to the Buckeyes since 2023.
On Wednesday, Henry Jr. announced his intention to sign with Ohio State, only he never did. Oregon, Texas, and USC decided to throw massive amounts of NIL money at him to try and flip him. It looked like it was going to work for a brief time, but now he has given the news every Buckeye fan was hoping for.
Chris Henry Jr. announces signing with the Ohio State football program
While on The Pat McAfee Show, Henry Jr. announced his decision to sign with the Buckeyes. In the end, it looks like the relationship with Ryan Day was enough to get him to stay with his guy and play in Columbus. He is the best recruit in the 2026 recruiting class for the Buckeyes.
Henry Jr. will get to share the field with Jeremiah Smith for a year before he heads to the NFL to become a top-ten pick. Adding him without Hartline on staff is huge. Of course, Ryan Day still has to figure out who he's going to get to replace Hartline as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
That is something that Day can officially announce once the College Football Playoff run is over. Right now, he is focused on beating the Indiana Hoosiers and following that up with another run to the national championship. Adding Henry Jr. will help them continue those goals next year and beyond.