Chris Henry Jr.’s rise is unlike any other college football has witnessed. NFL fans might remember the tragic passing of his father, Chris Henry Sr., who was one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ budding young wide receivers before tragedy struck and he died in 2009. However, now his son, Henry Jr., is carrying forward his legacy and solidifying his name as one of the best high school players. This former Mater Dei High School WR is making sure he keeps his father’s name alive in every move he makes.

Before heading into the game against Mission Viejo, Chris Henry Jr. made sure he paid a much-needed tribute to his dad by wearing his father’s NFL jersey to his practice. Reporter Cody Croy hits X with the picture of Henry Jr. turning heads with his heartwarming move. He even put a caption praising him: “Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. wore his late father’s jersey at practice today. Very cool 🙌”

This shows how much his father’s legacy means to him. That’s precisely why he even wears it as his HS jersey number. There’s no doubt that Chris Henry Sr.’s football genes are shining through in his 18-year-old son, who excels in speed, athleticism, and football IQ. He even ran a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash at Ohio State University on June 4, 2022, which earned him a scholarship offer from the university.

Even though he chose the Buckeyes as his ultimate destination, he received numerous offers from top programs, including Penn State, West Virginia, Grambling State, Akron, Connecticut, Marshall, South Florida, Cincinnati, and Michigan.

If the offers weren’t enough, Henry Jr. also earned an invite to the 2026 Under Armor All-America Game, which is a rare opportunity for a player who’s yet to take his first snap at the college level. But things were not that smooth for him emotionally, knowing about his father’s sudden death after falling out of a moving truck while arguing with his fiancée, Loleini Tonga. Henry Jr. was just 2 years old back then. All this is the result of the resilience and fighting spirit he got from his father, whose life and struggles inspire him the most.

That’s what is showing up in his performance on the field, as his WR coach James Griffin highlighted. “I saw Calvin Johnson live in the flesh. And I saw Larry Fitzgerald. I saw Chris’ daddy, too,” Griffin said. “To see somebody like him with that long frame move and get out of a cut like he can, I was like, ‘Wow.’ He’s Plaxico Burress mixed with Calvin Johnson and a little bit of Charles Rogers when he was at Michigan State. He is freaking special, bro.” And he keeps living up to that hype.

Chris Henry Jr. turns heads with another massive win

One thing is pretty straightforward: Chris Henry Jr. doesn’t really know how to stop. This individual has achieved a significant honor, as he has been officially selected as a 2026 Navy All-American. Henry Jr. will compete in the annual East vs. West All-American Bowl in January 2026 in San Antonio.

He was also honored with the jersey on the Road to the Dome tour. Navy’s official X page posted it, saying, “Striper /// Welcome ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Chris Henry Jr. (@ChrisHenryJr) to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl @NBCSports.”

Well, the honor is well deserved, as Chris Henry Jr. is turning heads this season. Remember his game against Las Vegas Bishop, where he made a massive play by jumping over two defenders and catching a 44-yard pass in the final seconds of the second quarter. After which, the big catch put them at the 1-yard line, but a false start pushed them back. However, Henry made another catch of 37 yards, which was a touchdown, despite having two defenders covering him. This gave Meter Dei a 27-24 lead.

Last year, after transferring from Withrow, he appeared in just two games before injuring his knee and finished with three catches for 20 yards and two touchdowns. But now, Henry Jr. is showing what he’s capable of. Let’s wait and see how he takes forward his father’s legacy here at Mater Dei and at Ohio State.