How Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones delivered Ohio State its next elite wide receiver: Buckeyes Recruiting

Published Jul. 29, 2023, 7:25 a.m.
By Stephen Means
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- “So what are we doing, man?”
Those were the magic words that Adam “Pacman” Jones yelled out that provided Ohio State with the first member of its 2026 recruiting class.
Jones was in Columbus with his godson Chris Henry Jr., a soon-to-be sophomore wide receiver at Withrow High School, who has all the makings of a player people may view as a five-star recruit and one day maybe even an All-American and first-round pick. That seems to be the description of most of the players Brian Hartline brings into his room regardless of their physical makeup.
In what was Henry’s second trip to Columbus of the summer after camping in June, this visit to attend the Buckeyes’ Summerfest was probably destined to be special from the moment it was set up. You don’t pull up in a blue and white Rolls Royce with your NFL godfather unless you’re planning to do something memorable, even if the actual announcement wasn’t exactly the plan.
“It’s hard to turn down,” Henry said. “It’s perfect for me. It fits me.”
As Henry spoke with reporters after his visit, most of his answers were that of someone who just wanted to tease the idea of him one day being a Buckeye. His answers were brief while saying just enough to maybe get someone intrigued that something may eventually be happening. His answers, when asked different variations of whether he saw himself playing at OSU or not, ranged from saying Hartline “felt like his coach already” to “I can see myself being a great receiver here.”
He even got asked about having to remind himself that he was still young and didn’t have to rush into anything. Henry was playing it cool, not trying to give away anything while still expressing his pleasure with his time on campus. But Jones wasn’t willing to play along with him as he and Hartline watched from afar, which is ironic given what Henry’s conversations had been with Jones leading up to the day.
“I brought Uncle to see because he was the one telling me to slow down,” Henry said. “I was ready.”
Jones has been raising Henry ever since his father, Chris Sr., passed in 2009. The elder Henry played for the Bengals from 2005-09, where he and Jones became close enough that Jones willingly stepped up to the opportunity when it presented itself. Under his watch, the soon-to-be sophomore has developed into the type of prospect that should easily claim five-star status when the 2026 rankings are released, already holding offers from 24 other schools.
But the Buckeyes were among the first to throw their name in the ring for him when he showed up for a day camp last summer. He immediately looked like the best player there, even though he was just entering high school. He made Hartline offer an eighth grader and now he’s committed to him earlier than any other player OSU’s new offensive coordinator has ever committed.
“I’m loving what they’re doing here with the receivers,” Henry said. “I’m loving what Coach (Ryan) Day and Coach Hartline are doing here.
Henry walked out of the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility and agreed to give a few minutes of his time to provide some insight into how his latest unofficial visit went, and how he set up Ohio State’s future by doing so. He may have walked out of the building having already made his mind up even if he wasn’t ready to reveal his decision yet. But Jones had a different plan and it meant having things play out in real time in the most organic way possible.
“What you doing, man?” Jones yelled in the background. “You committing?”
“You tell me,” Henry responded. “I’m ready.”
“You gonna tell the people or not?” Jones said. “Spit it out. It ain’t my choice. You told me.”
“I guess he said it,” Henry responded with a chuckle. “I’m committing to Ohio State. Most definitely.”
So there he was. Standing in front of a group of reporters who showed up thinking they’d speak with a few OSU targets on how a Friday evening in Columbus. Instead, they witnessed the beginning of a class being developed on the back of a wide receiver that might one day be the next great thing Hartline develops.
As a kid who’s much less bold than the man who stepped up to help raise him, Henry didn’t think his announcement would go this way. But it also seemed on brand for him to do it on the same grounds where his story as a potential elite football player first went public.
“It felt like a great day,” Henry said. “I was ready. ... When I talked to Coach Day, it was no point in waiting anymore.”