Ohio State Five-Star Plus+ CB commit Na'eem Offord sporting Auburn gear at high school game

Birmingham (Ala.) Parker Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Na’eem Offord has been committed to Ohio State since Feb. 4. Auburn has managed to hang around in his recruitment, however.

Hugh Freeze and the Tigers were able to get Offord back to campus for a game visit earlier this season and have maintained contact with the nation’s No. 9 overall prospect. The elite corner continues to show the in-state school love, too.

During Parker’s game against Hoover on Friday night, Offord was sporting orange sleeves and an Auburn towel and wristband:

One of the stars of the evening: Na'eem Offord

The Ohio State commit is the top recruit in the state, but he's wearing a lot of Auburn colors tonight and even the Auburn wristband 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/FHLmuyr44s

— Joshua Gleason (@JGleas) September 27, 2024

In the past three months, Offord has taken three visits to The Plains, including the game visit for the Tigers’ season-opening victory over Alabama A&M.

“(Auburn) is still recruiting me,” Offord told Auburn Live after the latest visit. “Even as I’m committed, they still recruit me. They have been recruiting me since my sophomore year.”

Offord has maintained his commitment to the Buckeyes, but has also not ruled out other programs, most notably Auburn and Oregon — which he is set to visit next month when the Ducks host Ohio State. Earlier this month, On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong provided the latest intel on where things stand in Offord’s recruitment.

“The relationship and trust in Tim Walton to develop him is why Offord is pledged to Ohio State, but there is a pull to staying home at Auburn and Dan Lanning has made quite an impression as well,” Wiltfong wrote.

Offord is the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 3 corner in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked player in Alabama.

He currently helps headline Ohio State’s top-ranked recruiting class as one of four five-star prospects pledged. Auburn’s class currently ranks No. 5 in the nation, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, and would take another major leap if Offord were to flip to the in-state program.

Na’eem Offord Scouting Summary

On3 writes this of Offord as a prospect:

“Twitchy, highly coordinated athlete who projects as one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2025 cycle. Has 6-foot-1.25, 181-pounds with 31.5-inch arms. Registered as one of the top athletes on the spring camp circuit prior to his junior season. A three-phase playmaker on Friday nights, making plays as a corner, return man and offense as a receiver and ball carrier. Flashed instincts and ball skills at corner as a junior. Effective at triggering and jumping passes to make plays on the ball. Very loose in his lower body, making for high-level change of direction. Excellent ball tracker as a defensive back, showing the ability to locate the football over his shoulder. Closes quickly as a tackler in the flats. Has a playmaking element to his game, which can be seen as a punt returner, taking back multiple punts for touchdowns as a junior. Has outstanding balance with the ball in his hands.”