Five star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., the prized commitment in the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2026 recruiting class, officially delayed the signing of his National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Despite reportedly announcing his intention to sign with the Buckeyes during his high school ceremony, Henry later clarified on social media that he had not yet signed and was still "weighing his options" due to unexpected "coaching changes." The dramatic turn of events has transformed the recruitment of the nation's top wide receiver into a high stakes battle, with the Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans now in full pursuit of a massive flip.

The upheaval is directly linked to the sudden departure of Brian Hartline, Ohio State’s influential offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of South Florida (USF) just hours before the early signing period commenced. Hartline was Henry’s primary recruiter and the architect of Ohio State's "Wide Receiver U" reputation, making his exit a major blow to the program's pitch. Henry's post confirmed the influence of the coaching turmoil: "I have not signed yet. Still trying to weigh my options due to coaching changes I just want to make the right decision for my future. Gods plan."

The failure of Chris Henry Jr. to sign his NLI has immediately escalated the recruiting efforts of rival programs, with Oregon emerging as the most significant threat. Coach Dan Lanning’s staff has aggressively pursued Henry for weeks, and the uncertainty in Columbus provides the clearest path yet for the Ducks to pull off one of the cycle’s biggest upsets. USC also remains heavily involved, having already flipped Henry’s Mater Dei teammate, wide receiver Kayden Dixon Wyatt, earlier in the day. These programs are actively leveraging the current instability at Ohio State, showcasing their own coaching continuity, and offering compelling NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) packages to sway the five star talent.

For Ohio State, the situation is critical. The coaching staff, led by Head Coach Ryan Day, is scrambling to reassure Chris Henry Jr. and his family that the program’s ability to develop elite NFL wide receivers remains intact, regardless of who replaces Hartline. The public plea from star Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith to Henry via social media underscores the team's sense of urgency to retain the top talent. Henry’s decision will serve as a crucial test of whether the program’s long standing success and history of putting receivers into the NFL can transcend the loss of a key assistant coach.

Looking ahead, the recruitment remains fluid, and the fate of Chris Henry Jr. may not be sealed until the early signing period closes on Friday, or potentially even later. While reports conflict on whether Henry intended to sign with the Buckeyes on Wednesday, the bottom line is that no official paperwork has been submitted. This allows Oregon and USC to continue their aggressive push, forcing Ohio State to fight to the last minute to secure the commitment of the 6 foot 5, 205 pound receiver and avoid a damaging flip.