The last couple of spring practices shows that Ohio State might have more formidable freshmen than returners. On offense, the Buckeyes got Jeremiah Smith to boast about but turns out, he may not be the only receiver receiving attention this season. And while he’s getting frustrated over practice, freshman WR commit Chris Henry Jr. is stepping up to show why he’s the next man up.
Chris Henry Jr.’s reps against some of Ohio State’s veteran CBs is turning heads. And as the post suggests, this isn’t a one-off. He’s been touching every Buckeye CB this spring practice. In one of the plays, he even beat expected CB1 Jermaine Mathews Jr. on a deep ball with ease. And for those wondering if he’ll see time on the field as a freshman, you can chill.
Reports surfaced that Chris Henry Jr. is showing up in first-team reps. So you can expect him to follow in Jeremiah Smith’s footsteps as a freshman breakout. He already has the pedigree as the son of late NFL receiver Chris Henry. So, as a 6’5, 201-pound 5-star WR, he carries both legacy and expectation. And now, with a clearer path, he could be the next true freshman elite.
Ohio State’s WR room has changed. Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham are out of the picture which provides a lane for Chris Henry Jr. It’s far from guaranteed but it’s definitely a visible one. And he’s sprinting through it.
TRENDING: Ohio State WR Chris Henry Jr. has been TORCHING all of the Buckeyes cornerbacks in spring practice (swipe)
Some of them aren’t starters but the guy he beat on the deep ball was definitely Jermaine Matthew’s, who is their expected CB1 this season.
Looks like he’s… pic.twitter.com/kXGx7dkz42
— Recruits CFB (@recruits_cfb) March 29, 2026
Even WR coach Cortez Hankton, who’s seen his fair share of elite talent, sounds equal parts impressed and cautious.
“Talented, but he’s young, right?” he said. “Like all of the young guys, they have a lot to learn, but he’s done a good job. Just trying to get him to truly play at a high level with urgency and playing fast, but he’s so efficient and smooth, and he has length and ball skills. He’s an extremely talented young man. But he still has to improve every single day.”
The ceiling is obvious for Chris Henry Jr. but right now, urgency is the next step. And he’s even got the full endorsement from Jeremiah Smith who called him “the next one up.” Coming from a star who just put up 1,200+ yards and looks like a future top-five NFL pick, it carries weight.
“I never thought I’d meet anybody that’s quieter than me,” he said. “Chris is quiet, he’s so laid back, so chill, got that Cali vibe in him. Chris is another one, just came in, kept his head down, just working.”
Ohio State’s offense last season was ranked top-three nationally by PFSN metrics. QB Julian Sayin finished with a 78.4% completion rate with 31 touchdowns. Now put Chris Henry into that picture and opponents already see the threat they’re up against. But before we crown anything, spring practice also humbled Jeremiah Smith while dropping attention on the Buckeyes secondary.
Freshman CB Devin Sanchez frustrates Jeremiah Smith
Ohio State may have lost some of its top playmakers in Caleb Downs and David Igbinosun. But there’s no reason to fret with incoming CB Devin Sanchez who’s voiced his desire to be a breakout freshman like Jeremiah Smith was. And on Friday’s practice, the former No. 1 CB stepped in and gave a solid reason why he should be starting in Year 1.
In one of the more heated moments from spring practice, Devin Sanchez forced a fumble on Jeremiah Smith, leaving him visibly frustrated. But as strange as it may sound, what frustrates their top WR is hope for Buckeye fans who expect a big season from the defense. After all, if Smith is getting tested like that in March, September will be a different test.
Jeremiah Smith even described Sanchez as a “big, long corner who can run.” For context, he scored a 10.8 speed in the 100 meters. Now, it’s iron sharpening iron. With Chris Henry Jr. rising, Jeremiah Smith sharpening, and Devin Sanchez dominating, Ohio State already looks formidable. Spring football on April 18 will give fans a clearer picture on what to expect from the Buckeyes this season.
