Chris Henry Jr. showed why he’s one of the nation’s top recruits in the first game of his final high school season.
In a nationally televised game against No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas on ESPN, Henry led top-ranked Mater Dei to a 26-23 victory by scoring two touchdowns – including an 81-yarder – and making multiple spectacular catches.
The five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit set up Mater Dei’s first touchdown of the game with an acrobatic leaping grab. Henry outjumped an STA defender along the right sideline and hauled in a deep ball while getting one foot down in bounds to secure the highlight-reel grab.
No. 1 WR and Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. goes up upstairs to make the catch, putting No. 1 Mater Dei in scoring position. @MDFootball I @ChrisHenryJr I @BrowardShowcase pic.twitter.com/03lcmBRYuB
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) August 23, 2025
Henry scored Mater Dei’s second and third touchdowns by himself. First, Henry made a diving grab going into the end zone for a 22-yard score.
Wisconsin commit Ryan Hopkins connects with future Ohio State Buckeye Chris Henry Jr. for a TD! @MDFootball I @RyanHopkins07 I @ChrisHenryJr I @BrowardShowcase pic.twitter.com/sfnbSKhzjq
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) August 23, 2025
He followed that up with an 81-yard touchdown on which he adjusted to haul in a deep ball through contact over his back shoulder before running all the way to the end zone.
No. 1 WR Chris Henry Jr. (No. 5 ESPN 300) makes an incredible 81-yard catch for the Monarchs @MDFootball I @ChrisHenryJr I @BrowardShowcase pic.twitter.com/8Ivdcd2L2g
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) August 23, 2025
How in the world did Chris Henry Jr. make this catch?!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 23, 2025
Ohio State has another elite WR on the wayhttps://t.co/aHBsWpjqrK pic.twitter.com/X5MqFu8C5F
Henry finished with four catches for 134 yards, all in the first half.
O-H! pic.twitter.com/Cwl27XjPCX
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) August 23, 2025
The highest-rated prospect in Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class, Henry is currently ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect and No. 3 wide receiver in 247Sports’ composite rankings. He’s been ranked as high as No. 1 overall in the class, but fell slightly in the rankings after missing most of his junior season with a knee injury.
His performance against one of the nation’s top teams on Saturday should give recruiting rankers reason to start moving him back up the rankings.
Mater Dei is ranked as the No. 1 team in high school football to start the 2025 season. The Monarchs have two Ohio State wide receiver commits as Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, a four-star prospect ranked as the No. 16 wide receiver in the 2026 class, is also committed to the Buckeyes.
