The best five-star recruit is returning to the Ohio State Buckeyes’ field…
Ohio State added five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord to its class of 2025 recruits on Sunday. According to 247Sports, the Parker High School standout from Birmingham is ranked as the top player in Alabama, the second-best cornerback in the country, and the sixth-best prospect overall for the 2025 cycle. At least 46 colleges, including elite programs like Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, LSU, and many more, had extended offers to him.
Offord commits to Ohio State, making him the eighth prospect in the 2025 cycle to do so. Along with Devin Sanchez, the No. 4 overall prospect and cornerback from Galena Park North Shore (Texas), he is the second five-star prospect in that cycle to accomplish the same feat. The top two cornerbacks in the 2025 cycle have thus far committed to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Offord is a track star at Parker, so his speed may be his greatest quality. He just finished his junior year of football in 2023, during which he recorded 393 total yards and six touchdowns on offense in addition to 14 tackles and four interceptions on defense. In an assessment from August 2023, national recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins of 247Sports outlined Offord’s potential:
“A versatile cornerback prospect possessing the stature to rival big perimeter players and the quickness to cover the deep third.” possesses some of the greatest testing results we have seen so far in the 2025 cycle, including an 11-foot broad jump and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash on the ledger. Well-versed in both off-man and press coverage already. Rather fluid for a person over six feet tall, and his agility allows him to change directions fast. Unafraid to break on a ball and play through hands when it comes to the catch.
Needs to continue developing as a player and honing his craft, but he should be considered a possible CB1 for a team that is in the running for the College Football Playoffs. His skill set may put him on the field sooner rather than later, but he’ll probably need some time to adjust before he’s ready to play on Saturdays. Characteristics that should put him on NFL scouts’ radar eventually.”
Despite adding Offord, the Buckeyes remain ranked No. 4 in 247Sports’ 2025 recruiting class rankings, though they are getting closer to possibly passing Clemson for the No. 3 spot (199.4). Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class score increased to 189.84 from 166.23 after the highly-regarded defensive back was recruited to Columbus.
