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California high school football star featured in Adidas commercial

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo06/25/25Andy_Villamarzo
Chris Henry Jr.
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3

In the new age of high schoolers being able to earn compensation on name, image, likeness (NIL), they’re starting to appear on commercials. The latest high school athlete to be featured is one of California’s top players heading into the 2025 season.

Mater Dei 2026 star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., a Five-Star Plus+ Ohio State commitment, was recently featured on an Adidas football commercial to promote new cleats. Henry Jr. missed most of his junior season due to an injury, but heads into his senior season as one of the most well known high school football players nationally.

Henry Jr. is the son of late Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, who passed away in 2009. One of the country’s top receivers has earned himself recognition and per the On3 Industry rankings, Henry Jr. is ranked No. 23 nationally, No. 3 wide receiver in the nationally and No. 4 in California.

Among the players that Adidas signed to deals was fellow four-star wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt,  five-star Grayson linebacker Tyler Atkinson, UCLA quarterback Madden Iamaleava, four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III (Florida signee), four-star athlete Madden Williams of St. John Bosco and four-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., who signed with Ole Miss.

Before heading to Mater Dei, the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Henry Jr. starred at West Clermont as a sophomore and hauled in 29 passes for 292 yards and found the endzone five times in 2023.

Henry Jr. and Dixon-Wyatt will be apart of a Mater Dei offense that figures to be one of the top offensive units in the country this 2025 season. Along with the two aforementioned wide receivers, the Monarchs also return 5-star tight end Mark Bowman, who is already committed to the University of Southern California. Bowman is ranked No. 12 nationally and No. 1 among all tight ends.

Throwing to the uber-talented wide receiving group looks to be Minnesota commitment Furian Inferrera, who recently flipped his commitment from Boston College to the Gophers. Inferrera last season completed 12-of-16 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown.