Ohio State Buckeyes: Southeast Ohio OT verbally commits

“First off, I would like to thank my biggest supporter my mother for always being there when I needed her because of the uncertainty of the future, but at the end of the day always knowing we could do it,” Henry wrote in a message posted to social media.

“Next I want to personally thank all the people that believed in me. With this being said, I would like to announce that I will be continuing my football and academic career at The Ohio State University.”

He is the No. 80 offensive tackle in the country per 247Sports rankings and No. 134 in 247Sports Composite rankings, which take into account that service’s rankings and others.

The 247Sports rankings have him as the No. 23 prospect overall in the state while he is 45th in the composite.

Henry’s commitment gives Ohio State 16 for the 2022 class, a group that includes five Ohioans and three offensive linemen.

The other Ohioans are Alter defensive standout C.J. Hicks, Marysville linebacker Gabe Powers and Lakota West teammates Jyaire Brown (cornerback) and Tegra Tshabola (offensive tackle).

If he signs with the Buckeyes in December, Henry will become the first Ohio State football recruit from St. Clairsville since running back John Spencer in 1987.

St. Clairsville also produced Tim Spencer, John’s older brother and a standout running back who is still No. 4 in rushing yards for the Buckeyes (3,553). Tim Spencer also coached at Ohio State, and his son, Evan, was a receiver for the 2014 national championship team.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr., a four-star defensive end from Florida, committed to Ohio State on Tuesday afternoon to move the Buckeyes’ 2022 class to No. 5 in the nation.

Henry’s addition bumped Ohio State up another spot, leaving them behind Alabama, Penn State and Georgia.

As a three-star and an Ohioan, Henry is a double rarity these days.

He is the only three-star member of this class at this point, and less than 30 percent of the players Ohio State signed in the past three classes called Ohio home.

In the Urban Meyer era, 40 percent of Ohio State signees came from Ohio, down from 60 percent under Jim Tressel.

Although Tressel’s predecessor, John Cooper, was known for expanding the scope of Ohio State’s recruiting, nearly 60 percent of his OSU signs were in-state prospects as well.

Recruiting southeast Ohio is also rare for Ohio State: Only 14 players from the region have signed with the Buckeyes since Spencer.

That group includes ‘21 signee Reid Carrico of Ironton, quarterback Joe Burrow of Athens High School and All-Big Ten receiver Joey Galloway of Bellaire.