Brian Hartline’s departure from Ohio State completely derailed the program’s Early Signing Day. The Buckeyes felt the biggest ripple effect when Chris Henry Jr., the No. 1 WR in the 2026 class, chose not to sign. After around two days of dilly-dallying, Henry Jr. has made up his mind, and he’s staying with Ryan Day’s team. While he announced his decision, his mom revealed how the whole ordeal affected Brian Hartline.

“Ultimately, I have been committed to the Buckeyes for a long time,” said Chris Henry Jr. on the Dec. 5 episode of the Pat McAfee Show. “With coach Hartline leaving, it really impacted my recruitment heavily.  I really had to take time to step back and really reevaluate everything.

“I will be committing, and staying committed to, The Ohio State University. I just feel like it is the right fit for me. I made my decision a couple of years ago, and it was the right choice. Even though Hartline did leave, Ohio State has always been in my heart.”

Following the announcement, Brian Hartline did a FaceTime with Chris Henry Jr. and his mom, wishing the new Ohio State wideout well for making the right choice by sticking with the Buckeyes. During the call, Lolieni Tonga, Chris’s mom, told the coach that he can breathe easy now.

“Now you can sleep a little bit better,” she said. “We love you, coach. We’re following you; we’re cheering for you,” Tonga further said on her call with Hartline.

As the clock ticks on the final day of the early signing window, Henry Jr. will be signing the papers to join Ohio State University on the Dec. 5 episode of The Pat McAfee Show at 12.10 pm ET.

Chris Henry Jr’s delayed decision kept Ohio State awake

Since Brian Hartline was announced as South Florida’s head coach, multiple sources revealed that Henry Jr. was unsettled about his decision. Earlier the same day, his teammate, 4-star WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, flipped from Ohio State to USC . What added more tension was Henry Jr.’s tweet about his confusion regarding his future.

“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. God’s plan,” Henry Jr. posted on Wednesday.

Top Stories

Mysterious Health Issues Force 3 PGA Tour Pros to Exit $9.2M Tournament Midway

Prayers Pour in for PGA Tour Champions Star as Cancer Diagnosis Comes to Light

Josh Allen’s Stance on Brian Daboll’s Hiring Confirmed as Bills Mafia Signs Petition for Sean McDermott’s Return

What Is Ben Shelton’s Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationality? Exploring His Family Roots & Background

PGA Tour’s Actions Against Rickie Fowler During $9.2M Event Faces Scathing Criticism

Patrick Mahomes Bids Emotional Goodbye as Chiefs Part Ways With Longtime Coach

By Thursday, multiple sources reported that the Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, LSU Tigers, and Texas Longhorns made a concerted effort to sway his commitment from the Buckeyes. Pete Nakos of ON3 revealed that Texas even prepared a big NIL offer for the 6-foot-5 prospect, keeping the Buckeyes staff awake throughout the night.

But the Buckeyes are WR-U for a reason. When the going got tough, Ohio State pulled in the big guns. The No. 1 WR in college football, Jeremiah Smith, hopped on to X with a simple message for Chris Henry Jr. “WE NEED YOU!!!!” And Smith is right. With Carnell Tate leaving for the pros next year, the production won’t be an issue for the true freshman.

But the deal was yet to be sealed. As per reports, Ryan Day called the WR signee to stress what Ohio State could mean for his college career. At the same time, the head coach also made a case against joining other teams like Oregon. The Buckeyes guarantee success at the position. Just look at the NFL rosters. The same can’t be said about other programs.