College football is a game of survival, like The Last of Us, where every move, every decision, can change everything. Remember all the whispers about the 5-star recruit Naeem Offord and that Nike deal? Yeah, he just blew that whole thing up. Like a true survivor, he took control of the narrative and shut down the rumors. Now he’s headed to Oregon, and this whole saga is more gripping than any game-day drama. This ain’t just a transfer; it’s a power play, and it’s got the whole league buzzing.

A stunning reversal on signing day saw Naeem Offord, a top cornerback prospect from Parker High School, switch his commitment from Ohio State (coached by Ryan Day) to Oregon. At first, it was all about the team—they were killing it, heading to the playoffs, and he’d get better playing with them. But now, everyone’s whispering it’s just about the NIL money. On December 10th, Naeem shared a reel on IG reflecting on his decision. He said, “Been a lot of ups and downs; nobody knows the struggles I go through, but I stood on the 🐕 mentality.  

The most captivating aspect, however, was the intense fan response to his transfer, which is said to have driven Oregon’s Nike deal with Phil Knight. Fans even started commenting on the post, saying, “Got blurred in his state chip, he flipped for a shoe; stay on that side for a shoe that Phil isn’t making for him.” You’re wrong if you think Naeem Offord will ignore this comment without giving his opinion. In the same post, Offord replied, “That’s false!” with a laughing emoji. But wasn’t he the one talking about how Oregon was gonna load him up with Nike stuff?

A week ago, talking about his sudden inclination towards the Oregon Ducks, Naeem Offord mentioned how Nike’s founder, Phil Knight, played a major role in it. He said to Naeem he would make Nike shoes for him. Even Offord agreed to it, saying, “He played a big role, like a huge, big role. He’s actually waiting on me to get up there; he’s got a lot of stuff planned for me. He’s going to help me make my shoe.” Now can we blame fans for mocking him?

Fans mocking Naeem Offord’s move

Look, it’s totally normal for young players to want to find the best situation for themselves. But when their decision seems all about the money or some sweet deal, we can’t expect fans to be happy about it. The same is happening with Naeem Offord and his singing day flip that turned Ryan Day’s fate. This fan said, “Facts, he definitely went to Oregon over a shoe, which is stupid asf.”

Well, Offord is not the first person facing fans’ wrath! When Bryce Underwood made his decision to switch to Michigan over NIL, this is exactly what happened to him. He also has to go through such harsh comments. As this CFB fan wrote, “Then lied his entire recruitment saying, “No Ian flip🌰🌰🌰.'” Nike clearly influenced Offord’s decision to transfer. His denial of this influence after accepting the move only made the situation worse.

It’s understandable knowing all the hate Ohio State has been getting after their loss against the Michigan Wolverines and their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. But fans couldn’t process this NIL fact as they say, “We don’t need you anyways; at the end of the day, money talks.” However, even if that’s the case, what’s wrong with that?

Players work hard to sustain themselves in the game, and NIL is a reward for their day and night efforts. “Kids are going to be in the portal soon, but hey, I hope the best for him, but his priorities aren’t in the right order,” a fan commented. Oregon is a No. 1 seed in the playoffs and a far stronger team under Dan Lanning. So his priorities look clear: a strong team is equal to a strong team.