Ohio State WR Commit Delays Signing After Coach Exit

In a turbulent start to the early signing period for the 2026 college football class, Ohio State University faced significant recruiting setbacks on Wednesday as its top wide receiver commit delayed his decision and a teammate flipped his pledge to rival USC. The developments, unfolding amid the departure of longtime Buckeyes coach Brian Hartline, highlighted the fragility of high-stakes commitments in the final weeks of the recruiting cycle.

The early signing period, which runs through Friday, began with Ohio State securing letters of intent from 25 prospects, bolstering a class currently ranked sixth nationally by 247Sports. However, the program lost ground in its wide receiver room, a critical area for the Buckeyes' pass-heavy offense. Chris Henry Jr., a consensus five-star recruit from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, announced he would not sign with Ohio State as planned. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior, ranked as the nation's No. 10 overall prospect and top wide receiver, has been committed to the Buckeyes since July 28, 2023.

Henry cited recent coaching changes in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "I have not signed yet. Still trying to weigh my...