Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes OT Avery Henry announces his cancer is in remission
Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.
Buckeyes OT Avery Henry announces his cancer is in remission
Ohio State second-year offensive tackle Avery Henry announced on social media Thursday night that his cancer is in remission. Henry revealed in December that he had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that is most commonly found in teenagers and young adults.
Now, close to five months later, he is coming out the other side of his fight against cancer.
“Just a couple of weeks ago I was announced CANCER FREE!!!!! I won the battle!!” Henry tweeted. “I have 4 more treatments and I’m officially done. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have doubts. But at the end of the day all we know is FIGHT. Never give up. Go Bucks. #FIGHT #AveryStrong.”
Henry tweeted in early January that he had started chemotherapy to treat the osteosarcoma.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, osteosarcoma “is a type of bone cancer that usually develops in the osteoblast cells that form bone.” Approximately 800 new cases of osteosarcoma are reported in the U.S. every year, and about half of those cases are in children and teens, per hopkinsmedicine.org.
In early February, the hashtag “AveryStrong” made its rounds. It help shed more light on osteosarcoma and Henry’s journey.
On Wednesday, a day before Henry announced publicly that his cancer is in remission, he returned to the James Cancer Hospital, where he received treatment. He was joined by five of his teammates — quarterback Kyle McCord and offensive linemen Donovan Jackson, Josh Fryar, Carson Hinzman and Tegra Tshabola — to help encourage other patients to keep going in their own fight against cancer.
It was the latest sign of support Henry’s Buckeyes teammates have showed him during this process.
“Like we talked about with his family, there’s a reason why you’re here,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said of Henry’s cancer diagnosis in December. “There’s a reason why you’re a Buckeye. Maybe because, along the way, you needed The James Hospital. You needed Buckeye nation. You needed this team to help you in this fight. And we’re here for you.”
Henry joined the team last June as a late addition to Ohio State’s 2022 class. The 6-foot-6 offensive lineman was a three-star prospect coming out of St. Clairsville, Ohio, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which also rated him as the No. 51 offensive tackle nationally and the No. 23 overall prospect in Ohio last cycle.
Henry didn’t record a snap his freshman season, which he ultimately redshirted. So he still has four years of eligibility remaining, but it’s yet to be announced if he’ll be cleared to play in 2023.
Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State offensive line, defensive tackles after spring practice
The Lettermen Row position-by-position “Progress Report” series continued with an overview of the development of the Buckeyes’ offensive line and defensive interior.
The biggest question facing Ohio State’s O-Line is who will start at right tackle? The Buckeyes just reeled in San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons to compete with Tegra Tshabola and Zen Michalski at the position.
Ohio State also turned to the portal this spring on the other side of the trenches. Longtime D-Line coach Larry Johnson reconnected with now-former Ole Miss defensive tackle Tywone Malone, who Johnson recruited when Malone was the top recruit in New Jersey during the 2021 cycle. Malone gives the Buckeyes depth at defensive tackle, but is it enough depth?
For more on those questions, along with other information about the O-Line and defensive tackle positions, go here and here.
In-house players who will benefit most from Buckeyes hoops transfer additions
Ohio State men’s basketball added a trio of transfers for the second straight offseason. This transfer class includes Minnesota forward Jamison Battle, Baylor guard Dale Bonner and Penn State wing Evan Mahaffey.
Which in-house Buckeyes players will benefit the most from those portal moves? Lettermen Row explored that question.
Here’s a hint: The incoming transfers will likely have an impact on backcourt responsibilities and floor spacing. Check it out.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 115 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 199 days
Are you subscribed yet?
Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to the everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.
