Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. was one of the best prospects to camp at Ohio State last summer, regardless of class.
That’s a pretty impressive feat, considering it led to the 2026 prospect picking up an offer from the Buckeyes before ever playing a high school game. Boasting a 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame, Henry won individual drill after individual drill, especially beating defensive backs on deep routes.
“I don’t let it get to my head,” Henry said in June after receiving his offer. “I just stay humble, but I’m very thankful and blessed to receive the offer. … It was a surprise, but I think I earned it because I worked for it. It just makes me want to get better.”
Henry, the son of the late former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, was the second overall player and the first offensive prospect offered by OSU in the 2026 cycle (defensive end Tyler Atkinson was the first). He plans on taking his first visit to OSU since receiving his offer this weekend, as he announced he’ll be at the Buckeyes’ game against Indiana.
I will be at Ohio State University this Saturday!! @OhioStateFB @N_Murph @brianhartline @ryandaytime @BenjaminRohaly #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/s9Yr1l04Sj
— Chris Henry jr (@ChrisHenryJr) November 9, 2022
Henry has received eight Division I offers in total, including from Miami, Penn State, Texas A&M and West Virginia. The likely-to-be top prospect in the 2026 cycle also will visit Cincinnati on Friday.
Henry just completed his freshman season for West Clermont, where his team finished 5-6 overall. But the wideout displayed his playmaking ability throughout his first season, showing why he’s drawn such high college interest already.
Chris Henry Jr. big play alert!
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) October 15, 2022
He took it 67 yards to the house.
Make it our top play with a LIKE or RT. @WCHSWolvesFB @ChrisHenryJr @REALPACMAN24 #Fox19FinalQuarter @fox19 @brysonearley1 pic.twitter.com/MqMO5xhhjr
Cook visiting OSU Saturday
Henry won’t be the only prospect of note on campus this weekend. Westerville North 2025 offensive lineman Jake Cook is also expected to attend the Buckeyes’ contest against the Hoosiers Saturday, marking the second gameday visit Cook has taken to Ohio State this season.
Excited to get back to The Shoe this Saturday, November 12th with my family! #GoBucks @CoachSollenne @CoachJFrye pic.twitter.com/Nzt1pFMEig
— Jake Cook (@CookJake52) November 8, 2022
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound prospect visited Columbus on Oct. 1 for the Rutgers game earlier this season, making it his fifth visit to OSU in the calendar year after he took two in the spring and camped at Ohio State twice over the summer.
“I got to talk with coach (Justin) Frye and coach (Mike) Sollenne for a little bit,” Cook told Eleven Warriors after the visit. “They just broke down on what I need to work on and what they see in me. Their big thing on me is they see me as an interior guy at either guard or center. Coach Frye wants me to keep playing how I’ve been playing and work on my hand placement on pass pro and getting that punch off quicker instead of letting them come into me a little more.”
Smith considering visit for Michigan game
One of Ohio State’s priority targets at defensive end in the 2024 cycle is considering taking another gameday visit to Ohio Stadium this fall. Four-star Texas prospect Nigel Smith told Eleven Warriors that he might be able to make a second trip to Columbus for the Buckeyes’ regular season finale against Michigan on Nov. 26, but the trip has not yet been finalized.
Smith, considered a top-40 prospect nationally according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, visited Ohio State for the season opener on Sept. 3 against Notre Dame.
“The atmosphere was awesome and the stadium was packed and loud the whole game,” Smith told Eleven Warriors after the visit. “(My visit) was different because this time I got to see a big-time game and what that atmosphere is like in Columbus on game day.”
Smith also camped at OSU during the summer despite already having an offer and visited Columbus for the Buckeyes’ spring game in April. While Smith isn’t nearing a decision anytime soon, several schools have emerged as contenders for the 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect, including OSU, Oklahoma, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M.
