Meet Chris Henry Jr., son of ex-NFLer next in line of Ohio State’s star receivers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are expected to be one of several contenders for the College Football Playoff in 2026. Head coach Ryan Day is no stranger to playing true freshman, and one of those he’s playing this season is Chris Henry Jr.
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The freshman wideout has already played a role in the Buckeyes’ offense, and he is expected to continue as the season progresses.
Let’s take a look at who Chris Henry Jr. is, who his father was and more.
MORE: Looking back on the car accident that killed Chris Henry Sr.
Who is Chris Henry Jr?
Chris Henry Jr. is Ohio State’s freshman wide receiver. A native of Charlotte, N.C., he is the son of former West Virginia and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.
In his first game as a Buckeye against Ball State, Henry caught a 15-yard touchdown from quarterback Julian Sayin. It was his first-ever catch in his Ohio State career:
Who was Chris Henry Sr.?
Chris Henry Sr. is Henry’s father. Henry played three seasons at West Virginia from 2002-2004. Across his last two seasons at WVU, he accounted for 1,878 yards with 22 touchdowns.
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A former fifth-round pick from the 2005 NFL Draft, Henry spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. But his NFL career was riddled with off-field issues, including five arrests from 2005-2009. As a result, he missed several games due to suspensions from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, as well as benchings from his head coach Marvin Lewis.
Across his five seasons with the Bengals, he played in 55 games, but only made 12 starts. He accounted for 119 receptions for 1,826 yards and 21 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Henry’s life came to a tragic end in 2009, when he passed away at the age of 26.
MORE: Ranking the NFL Draft prospects in the Ohio State-Texas game
How did Chris Henry Sr. die?
In December 2009, Henry fell from the back of a moving truck which was being driven by his then-fiancee, Loleini Tonga. He was just 29 years old.
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An autopsy revealed that Henry passed away from blunt force trauma to the head. His fiancee was never charged for Henry’s death, and investigators found that Tonga was not driving recklessly or with excessive speed.
After his death in 2010, West Virginia’s Brain Injury Research Institute released a report stating that Henry had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) throughout his career. The diagnosis of CTE was later confirmed via autopsy.
Henry and his fiancee shared three children, including Chris Henry Jr., and his daughter, Seini and son DeMarcus. His daughter, Seini, now plays volleyball at OSU.
MORE: Predictions for Ohio State-Texas and other Week 2 games
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Who raised Chris Henry Jr?
Henry Jr. was raised by his mother, Loleini in Charlotte. But former Bengal Adam “Pacman” Jones also had a hand in raising Henry’s two sons. Jones and Henry were teammates at West Virginia. Jones also played for Cincinnati, but he did not join the team until after Henry’s death.
In fact, Jones and his wife were named legal guardians of Henry’s two sons Chris and DeMarcus in 2021. Jones wanted to help Henry guide him as he went through his recruiting process in high school. Via a story from The Athletic in 2023:
When Jones saw Slim’s two boys growing into their own without their father there to guide them — and starting to garner some serious attention from college programs — he knew they needed a voice in their ear. He’d stayed in touch over the years, checking in with their mother and hauling the boys to football camps, sending them endless boxes of Nike and Under Armour gear.
Still, he told himself, Slim would’ve wanted more. So Pac called.
“Y’all need to uproot and move up here with us,” he urged Loleini Tonga, the boys’ mother. “We’ll help you out.”
Prior to becoming their legal guardians, Henry’s children would visit Jones for trips to Cincinnati as well as on Thanksgiving.
MORE: Checking in on Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith’s NFL Draft stock
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Where is Chris Henry Jr. from?
Henry Jr. is originally from Charlotte, N.C., but he grew up in Ohio. He bounced around a few different high schools, spending his freshman season at West Clermont High School in Batavia, Ohio, and transferring to Withrow High School in Cincinnati after moving in with Jones and his family.
As a junior, he played for powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif for his last year.
Chris Henry Jr. recruiting ranking
Henry Jr. was rated as a five-star from the class of 2026 per the 247Sports Composite. He was rated as the No. 2 overall wide receiver in his class, and was ranked No. 14 nationally.
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According to MaxPreps, he had 28 receptions for 607 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in eight games. He had recovered from a knee injury he suffered in Oct. 2024 that cut his junior season short.
Ohio State WR depth chart
Player | Position |
Jeremiah Smith | No. 1 |
Chris Henry Jr. | No. 2 |
Henry is the No. 2 receiver behind starter Jeremiah Smith.
