SPOTTED: Ohio State five-star plus CB commit Na'eem Offord dons Auburn & Oregon outfits

By Maliha

Modified Sep 29, 2024 13:02 GMT

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Five-star plus Ohio State cornerback commit Na'eem Offord is one of four five-star prospects pledged to the Buckeyes' 2025 class. However, he hasn’t completely closed the door on other programs, with Auburn and Oregon notably still vying for his attention.

In the Friday game between Offord's team, Parker and Hoover, the cornerback wore Auburn-themed gear, including orange sleeves, a wristband and a towel. Following Parker's 14-10 win, he was seen in an Oregon windbreaker.

However, during an interview with Joshua Gleason, an official at UAB, Na'eem Offord reiterated that his commitment to Ohio State remains strong, saying:

"No, it's going to stand, it's going to stand right here in Ohio State. Just, you know what I'm saying? Just showing love to you, you know, it's going to stand right here in Ohio State."

Offord’s recruitment journey has taken him on official visits to Auburn, Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State, where he committed on Feb. 4. However, his relationship with Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Tim Walton remains intact.

"It's still the same, you know, it's not even the coolest stuff, but you know, it's up there, you know, we just stand close, keep in touch every week," Offord said.

Throughout five games of the 2024 season, Na'eem Offord recorded 181 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He also contributed on defense with 20 tackles (14 solo and 20 assisted), including one tackle for loss, one pass defended, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Auburn and Oregon continue pursuing Na'eem Offord to flip him from Ohio State

Na'eem Offord has taken three visits to Auburn in the past three months. Following the Tigers' Big Cat Weekend in July, he was in attendance during the program's season-opening game against Alabama A&M, where he was joined by fellow four-star recruits Deuce Knight, Elijah Melendez and Ousmane Kromah.

During an interview with Auburn Live following the visit, Offord revealed that Auburn has been recruiting him since his sophomore year, and it is still going in full swing.

“(Auburn) is still recruiting me,” Offord said. “Even as I’m committed, they still recruit me."

Auburn’s class currently ranks No. 5 in the nation and No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference with 24 committed players. As an in-state talent, Offord remains a top priority for the Tigers.

Meanwhile, Oregon is also emerging as a dark horse in Offord's recruitment. He made an official visit to the Ducks in June and plans to return for their highly anticipated game against Ohio State in October. According to On3's Steve Wiltfong, Oregon remains a contender despite stiff competition from Auburn.

If Oregon can successfully force Na'eem Offord to flip from Ohio State, he will join a 2025 Ducks recruiting class that ranks No. 7 in the nation. It already features five-star prospects like wide receiver Dakorien Moore and safety Trey McNutt.