Five-star WR Chris Henry Jr. talks about his father's legacy and his commitment to Ohio State

Chris Henry Jr. will enter his senior high school football season as the third-best wide receiver in the nation. Only Tristen Keys and Cederian Morgan are in front of him, based on the Class of 2026 On3 Industry Rankings.

While Henry will be attending Ohio State, he would like to first help Mater Dei win another CIF state championship. But whether he plays in high school, college, or the NFL, he will always have his father’s name with him.

However, when he recently guested in The Pivot Podcast, the five-star wideout doesn’t let the weight of expectation pressure him. “The way I look at it is, having that name allows me to connect with certain types of people like yourself, high class athletes, elite athletes. But for me, it’s just I want to build my own legacy and just having my dad, it’s not really like a shadow. It’s just like a blessing to have that legacy,” Chris Henry Jr.’s response when Ryan Clark asked him about embracing his father’s legacy.

His father, the late Chris Henry, played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals. The former West Virginia standout finished his NFL career with 119 receptions, 1,826 yards, and 21 touchdowns. Unfortunately, the older Chris Henry passed away on December 2009 at age 26 after falling out of the back of a moving truck. Back then, he was having a domestic dispute with his then-fiancee.

Sadly, an autopsy later revealed that Henry developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy due to repetitive hits to the head during his playing career. He was the first active NFL player who passed away and diagnosed with CTE.

Henry hopes to continue the lineage of great Ohio State wideouts

Luckily for Chris Henry Jr., one of his father’s former teammates, Pacman Jones, served as a father figure to him. That guidance helped him dominate on the football field and merit the attention of the defending CFB National Champions.

For him, it’s the lineage of elite wide receiver talent that enticed him to commit to the Buckeyes. “That played a huge part in my recruitment. Just seeing the guys that they’ve been producing lately, it’s a big thing. You know, I think coach (Brian) Hartline, coach (Ryan) Day is doing a great job with receivers in general. The whole team, that played a big part.”

Former Ohio State wide receivers who are currently in the NFL include Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Terry McLaurin and incoming rookie Emeka Egbuka. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss are the top receivers left in the Buckeyes roster.

Chris Henry Jr. is on the right path in terms of keeping the Buckeyes’ prestigious legacy at his playing position. Representing the nation’s best high school football film also helps in his progression.