When Avery Henry was diagnosed with bone cancer in December 2022, he was told he might never be able to lift a bar again. Fourteen months later, the former Ohio State offensive lineman is able to bench press 315 pounds.
Henry knew soon after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma that he was unlikely to ever play football again. Henry had to have three inches of his ulna, one of the two bones in the forearm that connects the wrist to the elbow, removed in his right arm. Because part of his ulnar nerve was also removed, Henry lost feeling in part of his hand and is unable to fully move some of his fingers.
Henry’s cancer has been in remission since May, and he says he’s feeling great now. Henry’s hair has started to grow back after he underwent 10 months of chemotherapy, and he says he runs two miles a day while also eating smart as he looks to stay as healthy as possible. “I want to help people. I want to tell people my story. And when I tell them my story, hopefully they can relate to me in some sort of way,” Henry said. “So it hurts , but it's opened another door. And with this door open, I’m not going to leave it open. I'm going to do great things with that.”
Gentry chose Henry to receive this year’s edition of his namesake award because of the courage Henry has shown in the face of his battle with cancer, and Henry said the recognition from Gentry gives him even more motivation to keep pushing forward. Because of that, Henry remains invested in the Buckeyes’ success even though he’s sad he can’t be out on the field with them.