Ohio State’s 2025 football roster is notably missing one of its once-flagged five-star standouts: elite cornerback Na’eem Offord. This is a significant absence that reverberates across both coaching staff and fan expectations heading into the season.
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🎯 Who is Na’eem Offord?
A top-tier recruit, Offord was ranked as the No. 6 overall player in the 2025 class and the best cornerback nationally . In February 2024, he committed to Ohio State, fueling excitement about the future of the Buckeyes’ secondary . However, on National Signing Day in December 2024, he shocked the college football world by flipping to the Oregon Ducks .
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📉 Impact on OSU’s depth chart
With Offord’s departure, Ohio State is left with just one five-star cornerback, Devin Sanchez, a freshman from Texas . That leaves the Buckeyes relying heavily on underclassmen and less heralded talent to fill key secondary roles. Though they still boast senior cornerbacks like Davison Igbinosun and Milton Reese, reloading the top-tier depth hit a snag without that elite fifth star.
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🔍 Why did he leave?
Reports suggest Offord was swayed by Oregon’s aggressive recruitment—their coaching persistence and NIL opportunities—while OSU focused on established development pathways . The Ducks’ strategy paid off: landing one of the nation’s best CBs on Signing Day was a major recruiting win.
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🧩 Strategic response from Ohio State
On3’s Steve Wiltfong had projected Offord might flip to Auburn or another powerhouse, citing volatility in his commitment . The Buckeyes, however, still move forward with optimism. Marvin Banks and Davison Igbinosun bring experience, while Sanchez offers high upside. OSU also plans to deploy the transfer portal and target additional defensive backs to fill the void before the season opener .
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📅 What to watch this season
As August approaches, all eyes will be on OSU’s spring and fall camps:
Can Sanchez seamlessly step into a bigger role as a freshman?
Are Igbinosun, Styles, or another young corner ready to rise?
What’s the coaching staff’s plan—rotate talents, or pursue portal reinforcements?
The absence of Offord certainly left a gap. Yet the Buckeyes’ renowned infrastructure—solid coaching, strong player development, and strategic NIL usage—offers hope that the void can be filled and that the defense can still stand tall in a loaded Big Ten.
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Ohio State’s 2025 cornerback room lost a superstar prospect, but the season is young. What matters now is how they respond, adapt, and rebuild. Will this spark another wave of recruitment and internal development, or will the Ducks’ coup mark a turning point? Time—and early-season performance—will tell.