Ohio State checked all the boxes for Five-Star Plus+ CB commit Na'eem Offord
Ohio State is cruising on the recruiting trail. The Buckeyes are already on pace to finish with one of the top 2025 classes in the nation, despite the Early Signing Period being 10 months away.
That’s in-part thanks to an elite defensive back duo that has already pledged to Ryan Day and Co. In January, Houston North Shore five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez committed to OSU. Earlier this month, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker Five-Star Plus+ CB Na’eem Offord did the same.
Both are top-10 overall prospects in the On3 Industry Ranking, with Offord headlining as the No. 5 recruit. It’s not often that the Buckeyes land players from The Yellowhammer State, but Offord is already being touted as one of the best CB prospects in some time. After a couple of trips to Columbus, he felt choosing the Big Ten powerhouse was the right move.
“It was just the best fit for me. At the end of the day, you’ve got to look at your career and your future,” Offord told On3’s Phillip Dukes on ‘The Five Star Flex’. “You’ve got to look at the resources they have, a lot of the stuff they did, their scheme fit me.”
Buckeyes coaching staff made an impact on Offord
From his visit in July, to a Junior Day trip just before he pulled the trigger on his commitment, to all of the text messages and phone calls in-between, Offord has felt the love from Day, secondary coach Tim Walton and the entire OSU staff.
Walton has coached some of the best defensive backs in the nation across his lengthy tenure, making it easy for Offord to see the vision as a CB in scarlet and gray. Any time that Offord has spent with Day has been equally as impactful. The Buckeyes skipper had all the right answers for the five-star and his family, making the decision to commit come much, much easier.
“Coach Walton, that’s one of the best cornerback coaches to come through, everybody knew that,” Offord said. “That ain’t an argument, we all know, he’s got proof in the pudding. He’s got every résumé, he can pull up anything, you need something, he’s going to show you.”
“He knew what the best fit for me was. When I went up there he had everything set up just for me,” Offord added of Day. “He was answering all the questions for me. I looked at my mom, looked at my dad and was like ‘did he check y’alls boxes?’ They were with it.”
Offord ‘locked in’ with OSU but not closing recruitment yet
The line of programs that have recruited Offord is endless. Around 30 Power Five programs have extended an offer, including the who’s-who of the sport. Despite his pledge to OSU, Offord says that the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Oregon and Tennessee have stayed persistent in keeping contact.
Offord isn’t looking for a reason to get out of his commitment to Ohio State, but he’s still willing to hear out other top-notch programs that continue to make him a top priority.
“I’m locked in right now, I’m still gonna give some colleges a chance, though, but it ain’t gonna be how it used to be when I had an open recruitment,” Offord said. “My eyes are open to a couple of schools, cause I ain’t going to just completely shut it down. I know there’s a lot of schools still trying to show me love. A lot of them still text me right now and they’ll be real and be like ‘I’m still going to recruit you.'”
In particular, Georgia and Auburn have made their intent clear by swinging by Birmingham with the entire coaching staff. Oregon has also been by to visit — and Offord’s respect for Ducks head coach Dan Lanning could land the new Big Ten school a visit down the road.
“Lanning is so cool, man. Oregon, I got to get up there, that’s just out of all respect towards the man,” Offord said. “He was telling me straight-faced, keeping it real, he was like ‘I don’t want you to just come to Oregon, go somewhere where it’s going to fit you.'”