Five-Star Plus+ WR Chris Henry Jr. set to make final decision on Friday

Final decision time is finally here for Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., the country’s No. 1 player 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 ink with the Buckeyes on Wednesday, the first day of the Early Signing Period.

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

Throughout the past two days, there has been dialogue between Henry’s camp and Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Texas and LSU. The Ducks were perceived to be the most serious threat to land him, but the winds have shifted this morning.

“As Pete Nakos and I have been reporting, there is consistent dialogue with multiple schools involved with Chris Henry. But there is growing doubt around Oregon that they will ultimately be able to get him in the fold, while confidence is growing around the Buckeyes that they will be able to sign him,” Rivals VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong said Friday morning. “The situation has been very fluid the past few days, and will continue to be one to watch until he announces.”

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day looking to bring this one home

As Wiltfong and Nakos reported on Thursday evening, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has taken point on this recruitment in an effort to get the consensus five-star wideout to land in Columbus. Henry has been committed to OSU since June 2023, and while other schools — including some mentioned above — have made a run at him, his commitment had not been in serious jeopardy until this week.

At one point last spring, he scheduled official visits with Oregon, Miami, USC and Ohio State, but never took the visits anywhere but Columbus.

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

If the Buckeyes can ultimately sign him, it’d mark the third time since 2020 that they landed the country’s No. 1 high school wide receiver.