In this cutthroat world of recruiting, no commitment is ever truly safe. The ink on a verbal pledge might as well be written in disappearing ink. And with the rise of NIL deals and high-profile coaching poaching, the battle for elite talent is more ruthless than ever. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been around long enough to know this, but even he must feel a fresh sense of urgency. As a very familiar predator circles one of his prized 5-star WR commits. This time, it’s Colorado Buffaloes star HC Deion Sanders. History has been a witness that when Coach Prime sets his sights on a player, he rarely walks away empty-handed.

Colorado’s recruiting efforts under Sanders have been nothing short of audacious. From plucking stars out of the transfer portal to flipping recruits who seemed locked in elsewhere. With Travis Hunter and his sons off to the NFL, Sanders has worked to restock Colorado’s roster. Now, Sanders and his staff have their eyes on the Bucks’ five-star wide receiver commit, Chris Henry Jr. The son of former NFL receiver Chris Henry, the younger Henry is a premier talent in the 2026 class. Currently ranked No. 6 nationally. He made waves via X when he announced an offer from the Black and Gold, writing, “Blessed to receive an offer from Colorado University!!”

For Ohio State, losing Henry Jr. would be a brutal blow, not just because of his talent but because of what he represents. The Buckeyes have been a factory for elite wide receivers under Ryan Day and Brian Hartline, with names like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Garrett Wilson lighting up the NFL.

Henry himself has praised Hartline’s development of pass catchers, recently saying, “I love this move. Coach Hartline knows how to develop receivers better than anyone, & now with him as OC, I know he’s going to put us receivers in the best position to dominate for sure.” That kind of endorsement implies a firm commitment, but in the world of recruiting, nothing is guaranteed.

The timing of Sanders’ move is no accident. With National Signing Day behind us, Colorado has secured 14 recruits for the 2025 class, placing them fourth in the Big 12 and 37th nationally, according to 247Sports. That’s a solid haul, but Prime isn’t satisfied. He needs blue-chip talent to take the Buffs from a media spectacle to a legitimate contender, and Henry represents exactly that kind of game-changing athlete. It’s no secret that Deion Sanders sells a different kind of pitch to recruits—one that goes beyond depth charts and development plans.

That’s what makes this battle so intriguing. Ohio State offers pedigree, stability, and a proven track record of putting receivers into the NFL. The junior Henry has been committed to the Buckeyes since July 28th, 2023.

Colorado, under Sanders, offers an opportunity to be part of something groundbreaking—a program on the rise, with the flash and excitement of a coach who has lived the exact life these players dream of. But is he alone in the mix?

Deion Sanders has competition from another B1G giant

Currently, the Buckeyes maintain their lead in the competition for five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., despite the presence of Coach Prime. And now, with Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks making a serious push to sway him to the ‘Duck side,’ Ryan Day better keep his head on a swivel.

Even though Henry Jr. committed to Columbus, he hasn’t stopped keeping his options open. The 6-6, 195-pound wideout made three high-profile visits since pledging to the Buckeyes—checking out Penn State (September 2, 2023), Oregon (November 9, 2024), and USC (November 16, 2024). And just last week, he returned to Eugene for Junior Day, signaling that Oregon isn’t backing down anytime soon.

“When I was up there, I got to talk to Coach Lanning, Coach Adams, and Coach Stein,” Henry Jr. told 247 Sports. “Their message to me was that I’m a priority for them and that they’re not going to give up.” If Ohio State wants to keep him, they may have a secret weapon—family ties. His sister, Seini Hicks, is already wearing scarlet and gray, playing forward for the Ohio State Women’s Basketball team. That could be a major factor in keeping him in Columbus.