By ESPN | Created at 2024-12-04 18:47:28 | Updated at 2024-12-05 02:21:05
7 hours ago
Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterDec 4, 2024, 01:26 PM ET
- Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
Oregon completed the flip of five-star Ohio State cornerback pledge Na'eem Offord Wednesday afternoon, gaining a stunning commitment from the nation's top-ranked defender hours into the early signing period.
Offord, No. 4 in the ESPN 300, had been the highest-rated prospect in the Buckeyes' 2025 class since Feb. 4. But the defensive back from Birmingham, Alabama, spent the fall flirting with potential moves to Oregon and Auburn all the way into the early signing period before flipping his pledge to the Ducks on Wednesday in a ceremony at Alabama's A.H. Parker High School.
Offord is now the second-ranked member of Oregon's 2025 class, trailing only five-star wide receiver Darkorien Moore (No. 3 in the ESPN 300), who signed with the Ducks Wednesday morning, and follows Cal quarterback flip Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (No. 18 pocket passer) as the program's second signing day addition.
Offord visited Oregon early in the regular season and returned to Ohio State in Week 14. But Offord visited no school more frequently in his recruitment than Auburn -- most recently on Nov. 23 -- and the Tigers entered the early signing period appearing to be the most likely flip destination for the 6-foot-2, defensive back before Offord's Wednesday commitment.
With his pledge, Offord leads an Oregon defensive class that now includes pledges from five ESPN 300 defenders, joined by four-star safety Trey McNutt (No. 40 in the ESPN 300), cornerback Dorian Brew (No. 53) and linebackers Nasir Wyatt (No. 88) and Gavin Nix (No. 209), who flipped into the Ducks' class from Miami on Tuesday. Four-star athlete Brandon Finney (No. 34 in the ESPN 300) is also expected to play cornerback at Oregon.
