Five-star Plus+ WR Chris Henry Jr. expected to make final decision Friday

Final decision time has finally arrived for Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.the No. 1 player in the country at his position.

The longtime Ohio State commit, who delayed signing with the Buckeyes on Wednesday, will make his final decision between OSU, Oregon, USC and Texas Friday at 12:10 p.m. ET on the Pat McAfee Show. Henry was originally scheduled to sign with the Buckeyes on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

But when he found out via social media that wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was leaving for the head coaching job at USF, he chose to delay even though he wore Buckeyes gear to his school’s signing ceremony.

Over the past two days, there has been dialogue between Henry’s camp and Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Texas and LSU. The Ducks were seen as the most serious threat to land him, but the tides turned this morning.

“As Pete Nakos and I have reported, there is constant dialogue with several schools involved with Chris Henry. But there is growing doubt around Oregon about their ability to bring him into the fold, while confidence is growing around the Buckeyes about their ability to sign him,” Rivals vice president of recruiting Steve Wiltfong said Friday morning. “The situation has been very fluid over the last few days and will continue to be one to monitor until he announces it.”

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day looks to bring this one home

As Wiltfong and Nakos reported Thursday night, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day took a stance on this recruitment in an effort to land the consensus five-star in Columbus. Henry has been committed to OSU since June 2023, and although other schools – including some mentioned above – have swooped in on him, his commitment had not been seriously compromised until this week.

At one point last spring, he scheduled official visits to Oregon, Miami, USC and Ohio State, but never took a visit anywhere other than Columbus.

Henry, an Ohio native, spent the last two seasons at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei. After suffering a knee injury in junior, he returned this fall, catching 28 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns, averaging over 21 yards per reception.

If the Buckeyes are ultimately able to sign him, it would be the third time since 2020 that they have landed the nation’s No. 1 high school receiver.