Latest / Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning / Ohio State Recruiting: 5-Star WR Chris Henry, Jr. Signs With Buckeyes
Transcript
- 0:02Speaker 1: Welcome to buck Eyes tomorrow morning for Saturday, December sixth time,
- 0:04Speaker 1: your host Tom wore the Big Ten Championship game against
- 0:07Speaker 1: Indiana in the matter of hours the game against Michigan
- 0:10Speaker 1: in three hundred and fifty seven days. If you want
- 0:13Speaker 1: to hear all about that Big Ten Championship game against Indiana,
- 0:18Speaker 1: you can hear that on the Buckeye Weekly podcast feed.
- 0:20Speaker 1: Tony Gerdaman and I dropped another couple of episodes in
- 0:24Speaker 1: that feed previewing this game. But the Buckeyes also got
- 0:27Speaker 1: some absolutely enormous recruiting news on Friday. It was good news.
- 0:33Speaker 1: There was some question as to whether five star Ohio
- 0:35Speaker 1: State commit Chris Henry Junior was going to end up
- 0:38Speaker 1: signing with the buck Eyes after Brian Hartline announced that
- 0:40Speaker 1: he was going to be taking the USF head coaching job,
- 0:43Speaker 1: and after some back and forth drama. We love some
- 0:46Speaker 1: good recruiting drama, don't we, folks, Henry ended up officially
- 0:50Speaker 1: signing with the Buckeyes on Friday. I think a lot
- 0:53Speaker 1: of folks in that Woody Hayes Athletic Center breathing a
- 0:56Speaker 1: little bit of a sigh of relief. And now it's
- 0:58Speaker 1: onto Indianapolis. But before we do that, can'll let you
- 1:01Speaker 1: hear a little bit from Mark Givler on the Skull
- 1:03Speaker 1: Session Recruiting podcast feed about why the Chris Henry junior
- 1:07Speaker 1: signing is such a big deal for the Buckeyes.
- 1:16Speaker 2: Hello, everyone, we have some breaking news. Welcome to the
- 1:18Speaker 2: Skull Session Recruiting podcast brought to by Buckeye Huddle dot Com.
- 1:22Speaker 2: I am Mark Givler going solo with some breaking news
- 1:25Speaker 2: right now. Our guys are getting ready down in Indianapolis
- 1:27Speaker 2: for the Big Con Championship game tomorrow night. But in
- 1:30Speaker 2: the meantime, huge recruiting news. Five star wide receiver Chris
- 1:33Speaker 2: Henry Jr. Out of Powerhouse Modern Day High School in California,
- 1:38Speaker 2: has announced on the Pat McAfee Show that he is
- 1:41Speaker 2: sticking with his Ohio State commitment and we'll sign with
- 1:43Speaker 2: the Buckeyes today, ending a three day window of drama
- 1:48Speaker 2: that you know, I know a lot of Ohio State
- 1:50Speaker 2: fans were concerned Buckeye Nation was flipping out a little bit.
- 1:54Speaker 2: There were rumors around Oregon possibly landing Henry junior. USC
- 1:59Speaker 2: made a move. Text LSU in West Virginia were all
- 2:03Speaker 2: involved making final pitches to the five star prospect to
- 2:06Speaker 2: the number one wide receiver in the twenty twenty six
- 2:10Speaker 2: recruiting class. Ultimately, a phone call on Thursday night with
- 2:14Speaker 2: Ryan Day helped the Buck guys keep Chris Henry Junior
- 2:18Speaker 2: in the fold. His family was decked out in Buckeye
- 2:21Speaker 2: gear at the house when he made his announcement that
- 2:23Speaker 2: he was sticking and a big, big relief for the
- 2:28Speaker 2: Buck guys who have now locked up ter Quenton Guildford
- 2:31Speaker 2: and Chris Henry Jr. Two of their top wide receivers
- 2:34Speaker 2: in this recruiting class in back to back days. Guildford
- 2:38Speaker 2: last night did sign. Chris Henry Junior announces this afternoon
- 2:43Speaker 2: via the Pat McAfee show that he is signing with
- 2:46Speaker 2: the Buck Guys. He is not, as he put it,
- 2:50Speaker 2: not all about the money and not going to Oregon
- 2:54Speaker 2: or USC or Texas or LSU or West Virginia. He
- 2:58Speaker 2: will be in Columbus and this is the crown jewel
- 3:02Speaker 2: of Ohio State's recruiting class. This would have been a really,
- 3:05Speaker 2: really tough loss. Obviously, you could understand where Chris was
- 3:08Speaker 2: coming from with the Brian Hartline news, and he had
- 3:11Speaker 2: three days to decide, so he took those three days.
- 3:14Speaker 2: You know, they have the window open multiple days for
- 3:16Speaker 2: a reason. Chris, you know, used the resources available to
- 3:20Speaker 2: him to think this through and decide if Ohio State
- 3:24Speaker 2: was still the place he wanted to be. He made
- 3:26Speaker 2: it very clear on the Pat McAfee show that it
- 3:28Speaker 2: was that he was very comfortable at Ohio State, comfortable
- 3:31Speaker 2: with Ryan Day. Family, was comfortable there. I know his
- 3:35Speaker 2: grandfather was sitting next to him. I've had a chance
- 3:37Speaker 2: to talk to his grandfather a few times in person.
- 3:39Speaker 2: His grandfather is a military vet, but a diehard, huge
- 3:42Speaker 2: Ohio State fan. Once I saw Grandpa there sitting next
- 3:45Speaker 2: to him, like, man, He's not going to go to
- 3:47Speaker 2: Oregon or usc with Grandpa sitting right next to him
- 3:49Speaker 2: to break Grandpa's heart. So Chris Henry Jr. Is a
- 3:53Speaker 2: Buck guy or still a buck guy. He never never
- 3:57Speaker 2: wasn't a Buck guy. He's still a Buck guy. No
- 4:00Speaker 2: late flip from the nation's top wide receiver prospect, and
- 4:05Speaker 2: the Buckeys are getting really a unicorn at six'. Five you,
- 4:10Speaker 2: know a lot of receivers that are listed at six'
- 4:11Speaker 2: five are probably closer to the six three and. A
- 4:14Speaker 2: half chris is probably closer to six six six six and.
- 4:17Speaker 2: A half he always almost like underreporting his height at.
- 4:22Speaker 2: Six' five, he can run, he can jump he has,
- 4:26Speaker 2: Tremendous ball skills he's a. Great route runner came back
- 4:30Speaker 2: from a knee injury lad that cost him the end
- 4:32Speaker 2: of his junior year to have a great senior season
- 4:35Speaker 2: looked more. Explosive than ever we got some video here
- 4:38Speaker 2: that We Took Dominating saint thomas aquinas at the beginning
- 4:41Speaker 2: of the year they played. A national schedule chris dominated.
- 4:44Speaker 2: All those teams just an unbelievable year for the five
- 4:49Speaker 2: star talent and a guy who just has a tremendous
- 4:53Speaker 2: opportunity to Continue The the ohio. State receiver legacy and
- 4:57Speaker 2: you Know That the ohio state receiver legacy go back,
- 5:00Speaker 2: many many decades but the latest this last decade has
- 5:06Speaker 2: been something just Extra. Special In Columbus the, marvin Harrison Juniors,
- 5:11Speaker 2: the Garrett Wilson's the jackson smith and jigbas and Now
- 5:15Speaker 2: You've got Jeremiah Smith and carnel tate. Who you know
- 5:17Speaker 2: jeremiah we know is going to be a very very,
- 5:20Speaker 2: highly drafted player one of the greatest. College wide receivers.
- 5:24Speaker 2: We've Ever Seen but carnel tait also likely a first
- 5:27Speaker 2: round draft choice here this as early. As A Spring
- 5:30Speaker 2: So chris henry junior has every bit the opportunity to
- 5:35Speaker 2: be that type Of Player, for ohio state to be
- 5:38Speaker 2: a first round draft pick and in three or four
- 5:41Speaker 2: years to carry the legacy to be a STANDOUT. In
- 5:44Speaker 2: the nfl he has all the physical tools, to do
- 5:47Speaker 2: it he has the he has the emotional and mental maturity.
- 5:50Speaker 2: To do it he's, a smart player he's. A hard
- 5:52Speaker 2: worker there really isn't anything in the scouting report that
- 5:57Speaker 2: you can. Really point to he's he's kind, of you
- 5:59Speaker 2: know we Said This, about JEREMIAH smith and i don't
- 6:01Speaker 2: want to Compare Anyone. TO jeremiah smith i made THAT
- 6:04Speaker 2: promise that i Never Will he jeremi smith is kind
- 6:07Speaker 2: of an untouchable territory for me as far. As player
- 6:09Speaker 2: comps but THE one thing i think they would have
- 6:13Speaker 2: somewhat in common is that if you built a wide,
- 6:17Speaker 2: receiver from scratch it might look A Lot Like, chris
- 6:19Speaker 2: henry junior, or You Know, IN jeremi smith i said that.
- 6:22Speaker 2: About As Well So. Chris, henry, junior, height, athleticism ball skills,
- 6:27Speaker 2: burst route, runner you know, natural pass, catcher hard worker.
- 6:32Speaker 2: Understands the game you know FATHER was an nfl standout before.
- 6:36Speaker 2: His tragic passing Has Been around JAMAR Chase and T
- 6:41Speaker 2: Higgins and TYLER boyd And t J Huschmanzada. And chad
- 6:46Speaker 2: johnson he Growing up in cincinnati having a lot of those.
- 6:49Speaker 2: Guys as mentors just knows the. Game of football just a,
- 6:54Speaker 2: very polished player a guy who will come in. Early
- 6:56Speaker 2: and play, IN my opinion i think we need to
- 6:59Speaker 2: get into a little bit of. THE expectations talk i
- 7:01Speaker 2: think we should never ever Ever Have the jeremiah smith expectations.
- 7:05Speaker 2: AGAIN for anybody i don't. Think That's fair jeremiah smith.
- 7:09Speaker 2: Is TRULY generational but I Do Think chris henry junior
- 7:15Speaker 2: is ready to play. Quite a, bit you know There
- 7:18Speaker 2: Will assuming cornel tate does LEAVE, for the nfl there
- 7:21Speaker 2: will be an Open Spot. OPPOSITE jeremiah smith I Would
- 7:25Speaker 2: Expect chris henry junior to be able to. COMPETE for
- 7:27Speaker 2: that i would expect him to be at least as
- 7:31Speaker 2: a freshman on the Level Of a marvin harrison Junior
- 7:36Speaker 2: Or a Jackson Smith AND jigbo what i think is
- 7:38Speaker 2: even more likely is we see more Of Like a
- 7:40Speaker 2: garrett wilson type, of freshman year which was which was a,
- 7:43Speaker 2: phenomenal freshman year but of course not Up To what
- 7:47Speaker 2: jeremiah smith. DID last year i just think that's. Unreasonable
- 7:49Speaker 2: FOR anybody But I Think chris henry junior has the
- 7:52Speaker 2: ability and the physical talent and the physical readiness to
- 7:56Speaker 2: be a instant Impact guy in columbus and be a
- 7:59Speaker 2: big part of that receiver, room right away just with
- 8:02Speaker 2: his size and physicality and and, just you know going
- 8:04Speaker 2: to modern day this year and or the last two
- 8:07Speaker 2: years and playing the national, schedules they played and just in,
- 8:11Speaker 2: practice every day he's got guys GOING to like usc
- 8:14Speaker 2: and other guys with higher states recruiting right now in
- 8:16Speaker 2: the secondary that he goes up. Against every day so
- 8:18Speaker 2: just truly kind of iron sharpening iron out there a modern.
- 8:22Speaker 2: Day for him so for, All those reasons i'm putting
- 8:25Speaker 2: probably unreasonable expectations on him FOR for what i, WOULD
- 8:28Speaker 2: do normally i would even pump the. Brakes EVEN further
- 8:30Speaker 2: but i think it's gonna be really hard to keep
- 8:32Speaker 2: him off the field next Year For, the black eyes
- 8:34Speaker 2: and think he will be a, part of things and again.
- 8:37Speaker 2: COULD see that i think it'll be a little Bit
- 8:40Speaker 2: More like garrett wilson where he's kind of, a secondary
- 8:43Speaker 2: option but at least to the level Of Like, a
- 8:46Speaker 2: Marvin Harrison, A Chris olave Jackson smith and jigba where
- 8:50Speaker 2: things start to gradually throughout the year pick up and
- 8:53Speaker 2: by the end of the year he's he's a big.
- 8:55Speaker 2: Part of things and so we kind of we've seen
- 8:57Speaker 2: that with. OTHER freshman receivers i think he's gonna at
- 8:59Speaker 2: least give us that next year as, a true FRESHMAN
- 9:02Speaker 2: and so i don't. Say that much so this is
- 9:05Speaker 2: high praise. Coming for me i'm usually the guy who
- 9:08Speaker 2: likes to pump the brakes on. Things like that i'll
- 9:11Speaker 2: run back through the video here again for people who
- 9:14Speaker 2: are checking this out and want to take another look.
- 9:18Speaker 2: At that video but just an unbelievable player. And, UNBELIEVABLE
- 9:21Speaker 2: Talent again usc oregon made Huge Overtures late ohio state
- 9:28Speaker 2: probably not the, highest Bidder here and chris basically admitted
- 9:32Speaker 2: that during his Time on the pat McAfee show when
- 9:35Speaker 2: he made his announcement that he was Sticking. With the
- 9:37Speaker 2: buckeyes so just a Massive Win. For RYAN day and
- 9:42Speaker 2: i think even maybe even more so than the talent
- 9:46Speaker 2: and the ability of the Player, HERE with Chris I
- 9:49Speaker 2: think ryan day is sending, a, message like hey like
- 9:53Speaker 2: the Receiver Room at ohio state is not. Going To
- 9:56Speaker 2: collapse brian hartline did. An Amazing job brian hartline is
- 10:00Speaker 2: one of The best recruiters. I've ever covered he's. AN
- 10:04Speaker 2: amazing recruiter i think he's gonna do a PHENOMENAL. Job
- 10:06Speaker 2: At Usf but ohio states had Great Receivers. Before brian
- 10:10Speaker 2: hartline they'll have Great Receivers. After Brian hartline Ryan day
- 10:15Speaker 2: recruited Chris O'lave. And garrett wilson people kind Of Forget
- 10:18Speaker 2: that ryan day was a Primary Recruiter on garrett wilson
- 10:21Speaker 2: in high school when he was. AN assistant coach I
- 10:23Speaker 2: Ran into Ryan Day at garrett wilson's high School During
- 10:27Speaker 2: our SOUTHERN swing where i go around the country and
- 10:29Speaker 2: kind of Go through the south and get All Of
- 10:31Speaker 2: the ohio states' Top Targets on. Cameron do interviews we
- 10:33Speaker 2: Were There for garrett wilson sitting in the Lobby waiting
- 10:36Speaker 2: for garrett to get out of his Morning Practice and
- 10:38Speaker 2: Ryan Day and zack smith come. Through The Door so
- 10:40Speaker 2: ryan day, has been heavily heavily involved in recruiting these
- 10:44Speaker 2: wide some of these wide receivers. Over the years it
- 10:47Speaker 2: has Not Just. Been brian hartline there Were Things that
- 10:50Speaker 2: ryan day Was Doing. Before brian hartline there Were Things
- 10:52Speaker 2: that ryan day was doing With Receivers during brian. Hartline's
- 10:54Speaker 2: ten years so this sends the Message that the ohiose
- 10:58Speaker 2: passing game's. Not going anywhere the receivers are still going
- 11:02Speaker 2: to be Churned Out at ohio state like they have
- 11:04Speaker 2: been for, thirty Forty Years and ryan day is going
- 11:07Speaker 2: to continue to be the offensive kind of guru. That
- 11:10Speaker 2: he is where, whoever's the, coordinator that's fine but this
- 11:14Speaker 2: Is Ultimately a. Ryan gay production this Is Ultimately a.
- 11:16Speaker 2: Ryan day offense the Buck Stops with ryan Day As
- 11:20Speaker 2: the ohio state as Far As the ohio state. Offense
- 11:22Speaker 2: is CONCERNED and so i don't want to sit Here
- 11:25Speaker 2: And downplay. Brian HARTLIN'S contributions but i also don't want
- 11:29Speaker 2: to sit here and pretend, like you know things are
- 11:32Speaker 2: just going to crash and Burn Now that brian. Hartlin's
- 11:34Speaker 2: out here there's no evidence of that happening from what
- 11:37Speaker 2: We've Seen, before brian hartline and there should be no
- 11:39Speaker 2: evidence now With With, Tre Quaidon Gilford chris, henry junior
- 11:42Speaker 2: signing you know this is going to continue to be
- 11:46Speaker 2: A Strength. For Ohio State chris henry junior gets To
- 11:49Speaker 2: Learn from jeremiah smith. FOR a, year i mean how
- 11:52Speaker 2: helpful is that? Going to be and not just in
- 11:55Speaker 2: terms of, on the field but how to handle The
- 11:58Speaker 2: Celebrity that jeremiah Smith Is at ohio state and What's
- 12:01Speaker 2: Gonna Come chris. HENRY junior's way i will tell. A
- 12:04Speaker 2: quick story i don't know if it's, apples to apples and.
- 12:09Speaker 2: It Probably Isn't because JEREMIAH smith when i went to
- 12:12Speaker 2: see him, in high school was always in his Home Base.
- 12:15Speaker 2: Of south florida so if You Were a, jeremiah Smith
- 12:18Speaker 2: Guy an ohio State Fan, in south florida you had
- 12:21Speaker 2: endless opportunities To Go watch jeremiah smith play high school.
- 12:25Speaker 2: Football down there so from, game to game the buzz
- 12:28Speaker 2: Maybe wasn't around jeremiah like It. Was for Chris But
- 12:30Speaker 2: When chris henry junior's Team Went to south florida this
- 12:33Speaker 2: Year And Played Thomas. SAINT thomas aquies, i WAS there
- 12:36Speaker 2: and i have never seen buzz, around a player around
- 12:40Speaker 2: high schoo footall player in MY life like i saw,
- 12:41Speaker 2: after that game people. Swarming him autographs can we, Get
- 12:46Speaker 2: a glove can we? Get a, towel you know can we?
- 12:48Speaker 2: Get a picture like no space for him to, operate
- 12:52Speaker 2: after game security police had to come, in, be like
- 12:54Speaker 2: okay we gotta. Let him go we got to get
- 12:56Speaker 2: him to, the locker room we gotta get him, to
- 12:58Speaker 2: his bus. BREAK things up i have never in my
- 13:01Speaker 2: life seen this for. HIGH school player i was eventually able.
- 13:04Speaker 2: TO interview him i was Standing there with chris. After
- 13:06Speaker 2: the Game he's. Like i'm, sorry, i'm like no. We're
- 13:08Speaker 2: good man just do what you need to do and
- 13:09Speaker 2: then we'll. Do the INTERVIEW and so i was able to,
- 13:11Speaker 2: finally INTERVIEW him but i always had. Security remove me
- 13:13Speaker 2: chris had to, tell, him like no that's our that's My.
- 13:15Speaker 2: Guy from ohio Like that's why, i've known, him YOU
- 13:17Speaker 2: know since i was in eighth grade And. He's from ohio.
- 13:19Speaker 2: He's a reporter we're, doing, an interview like he's not
- 13:22Speaker 2: like a fan trying to get at. Me right now
- 13:24Speaker 2: so This was just i've just never seen anything like
- 13:27Speaker 2: that for high school fotball player after high, school football
- 13:29Speaker 2: game and SO he, carries i think almost more. CELEBRITY
- 13:35Speaker 2: with him i don't know if, it's, his name obviously.
- 13:37Speaker 2: It's his ranking he's been on a radar since he.
- 13:40Speaker 2: Was a freshman he got his first offer before his.
- 13:43Speaker 2: Freshman Year started ohio state offered him but the summer before,
- 13:46Speaker 2: his freshman year so maybe that's. PART of, It i
- 13:48Speaker 2: mean jeremiah kind of didn't like The spotlight and chris,
- 13:51Speaker 2: Doesn't REALLY either but i. DON'T know why i don't
- 13:54Speaker 2: know where the Disconnect was where chris seems to be
- 13:56Speaker 2: such a more of a high School celebrity. Than jeremiah
- 13:59Speaker 2: was jeremia is gonna be able, To help, him like
- 14:01Speaker 2: okay Like we've, got adidas deals we know. How this
- 14:03Speaker 2: works like here's how, to do this here's how, to
- 14:06Speaker 2: do that here's, how to operate here's how to kind
- 14:08Speaker 2: of get some, time for yourself you know. All those
- 14:11Speaker 2: things because he the celebrity he's gonna bring With Him
- 14:14Speaker 2: to ohio state is Almost unlike anything, i've ever seen
- 14:17Speaker 2: and it's only going to. Eat the spotlight it's only.
- 14:19Speaker 2: Gonna get brighter the scope is just gonna get focus
- 14:22Speaker 2: in on him. Even more so much is gonna be
- 14:24Speaker 2: expected of him as. A true freshman it's. Gonna be
- 14:26Speaker 2: unfair we're Gonna Get the. Jeremia smith comparisons i'm trying
- 14:29Speaker 2: AS hard as i can already to get in front of,
- 14:30Speaker 2: that and say don't do, this to yourselves don't do
- 14:32Speaker 2: this to the, to the guy don't Do. This to
- 14:34Speaker 2: chris but he's, a special player, a special kid great
- 14:39Speaker 2: family and really just a Perfect Fit. For ohio State
- 14:42Speaker 2: and ultimately i'll run his tape here. One, more time
- 14:46Speaker 2: ultimately just a, tremendously talented receiver. Tremendously talented person so
- 14:54Speaker 2: a big time culture Fit for, the buck guys a
- 14:57Speaker 2: big time athletic Fit for, the buck guys and just
- 15:00Speaker 2: Huge News. FOR ohio state i know. People were, down
- 15:03Speaker 2: you Know the legend bay saga is, going to continue
- 15:06Speaker 2: which we're going to. Talk about LATER. You Know jr
- 15:08Speaker 2: quat guildford didn't, Sign Right away Caden Dixon Why Unfortunately
- 15:13Speaker 2: chris henry juness TEAMMATE flips to usc. On signing day
- 15:16Speaker 2: that is something that us even pushing. For for weeks
- 15:19Speaker 2: they were able to get that done, so so Much
- 15:21Speaker 2: And then brian hartline leaves so much needed good news
- 15:24Speaker 2: for the buck guys on. The recruiting trail It's been
- 15:26Speaker 2: a it was a Tremendous month of November for the
- 15:28Speaker 2: buckeyes on, the recruiting trail and just a couple of
- 15:31Speaker 2: hiccups There on signing day with the heartline decision, and
- 15:33Speaker 2: Everything else but buckeyes. Back On Track dr Quaiden Guildford Signed.
- 15:37Speaker 2: Chris henry Jr Sticking. With Ohio state ryan day putting
- 15:41Speaker 2: a bow tie on another tremendous Recruiting Class at OHIO
- 15:46Speaker 2: state that i believe has quite a few guys who
- 15:48Speaker 2: are going to be really Tremendous players in columbus and
- 15:50Speaker 2: potentially a couple of early impact Guys Like Your chris
- 15:53Speaker 2: henry Juniors Like. Your Carry Wilders so ryan day continuing to,
- 15:58Speaker 2: get it done continuing to show he's one of the
- 16:00Speaker 2: nation's top. Recruiting Head Coaches congratulations ohio state fans on
- 16:04Speaker 2: the Great News. FOR buckeye Nation I am mark givler.
- 16:07Speaker 2: Signing off here we'll be back with more. Signing day
- 16:09Speaker 2: capsules we're going to go through every kid that Signed
- 16:11Speaker 2: with the. Buckeyes this week we're going to spread them
- 16:13Speaker 2: out of the next two weeks to get you all
- 16:14Speaker 2: the way up to The college, football plaoff starting but
- 16:17Speaker 2: had to do the breaking news One Here With. Chris henry,
- 16:19Speaker 2: Junior congrats everyone thanks everyone for, watching and listening and
- 16:22Speaker 2: we'll be back with more content soon