Ohio State's Avery Henry Announces Bone Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Will Fight This!'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ohio State football player Avery Henry has been diagnosed with bone cancer.

The freshman offensive linemanconfirmed the newson Twitter Monday night.

“This isn’t the way I wanted to release this, but I know no other way,” Henry posted. “A couple days ago I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. I will fight this! I have never been a statistic and I never will! I want to thank my brothers and coaches for the endless support!”

Teammates and fans showed their support for the St. Clairsville, Ohio native after his announcement.

“You got this brother…we all here for ya!!” wrote running back Dallan Hayden, while fellow offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. said: “We love you brother, we are with you in this fight!”

Jay LaPrete/Ohio State University

According to the Mayo Clinic, osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that begins in the cells that form bones and typically occurs inteenagers and young adults.

The 6 feet, 6 inches, 309-pound athlete, who did not play this season, is a three-star recruit who originally committed to Iowa State, according toThe Columbus Dispatch.

Henry ultimately decided to stay closer to home and cited his family as the main reason.

“Being that mymom’s a single mom, she can’t make that distance all the time,” Henry told Cleveland.com in November 2021. “We always talked about what if Ohio State offered. I told my mom I was gonna take it if it came. It was unbelievable when I first got it. I didn’t realize for the first day or so.”

Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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Fans of conference rival Michigan football alsoshared their supportfor Henry on social media. Tragically, the team has recently experienced its own loss of a promising recruit from the disease.

Earlier this month, high school football standout Dametrius “Meechie” Walker died after a two-year battle with osteosarcoma.

source: people.com