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Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. has been committed to Ohio State since the summer of 2023. Considered the top pass catcher in his class by On3 Sports, he plans to continue a line of impressive Buckeyes wideouts upon arriving in Columbus.
Despite his pledge, outside suitors have continued to pursue his services. Whispers of a potential push by rival Michigan surfaced earlier this week.
Wolverines insider EJ Holland suggested that the program could make a look to flip Henry from his current commitment. The school has the NIL backing to do so, and it’s shown that it’s not afraid to spend to land top talent.
Let’s face it — this wide receiver room needs help. I wouldn’t be surprised if Larry (Ellison) and Jolin or others involved with Underwood get the ball rolling with Henry. And yes, I do think Henry would be open to it. He has not shut the door on other programs and is looking hard at Oregon, Tennessee and Texas A&M. What do all of those programs have in common? NIL. A big offer from Michigan could sway Henry and deliver a gut punch to the rival Buckeyes.
-EJ Holland
Just last recruiting cycle, Michigan was able to flip No. 1 signal caller Bryce Underwood from a longtime pledge to LSU. A reported $12 million NIL promise helped do the trick.
With their quarterback of the future now onboard, the Wolverines are searching for a star-studded supporting cast to fill out the roster. Henry would obviously fit the bill.
The 2026 prospect is the son of former NFL receiver Chris Henry Sr. He could be a Day 1 contributor when he steps foot on a college campus.
Henry checks off every box you want to see in a next level receiver. In fact, despite not playing a ‘premium’ position from an NFL Draft standpoint, he’s good enough to warrant consideration as the top overall recruit in the ’26 class, much like Jeremiah Smith was in the class of ’24.
At close to 6-6 and 195 pounds, Henry is one of the longest receivers in the ’26 class but has surprisingly agility and lateral quickness. He’s explosive out of the gate, can stop and start on a dime, change direction and obviously has that huge catch radius. He has the long speed to stretch the field and hit the home run but the size and sure handedness to be a go to guy on key third down situations.
He’s dominant in the air on jump balls and as he fills out some and he gains strength, his game will take off to another level.
As Holland mentions, Chris Henry Jr. is still looking at other programs despite his Ohio State pledge. He took unofficial trips to USC and Oregon last November. He’s also visited Penn State since making that commitment.
Does Michigan have a shot to flip the wideout given its massive NIL bankroll? Henry says no!
He responded to Holland’s story with a repost on social media. He’s locked in with the Buckeyes at this point.
https://t.co/rRwiWyEcHK pic.twitter.com/xUYshu1YqI
— Chris Henry Jr (@ChrisHenryJr) January 28, 2025
Henry responded with an image showing WR coach Brian Hartline celebrating Ohio State’s national championship win. Henry suggests he’ll continue bringing titles to Columbus as a Buckeye.
With that being said, Michigan’s never-ending pursuit of Bryce Underwood paid dividends with his late flip. In fact, the quarterback was still trolling the Wolverines days before ultimately spurning the Tigers.
Nothing is official until the ink dries. Chris Henry Jr.’s recruitment will be considered open up until signing day. He’s expressed loyalty to his Ohio State commitment thus far. It doesn’t appear that will stop Michigan from making an offer.