As the date of the early signing period draws closer, programs are trying to hold on to their recruits or get others to flip. Na’eem Offord, Parker High School’s five-star cornerback is among those whose future remains in the air, despite committing to Ohio State, earlier this year in February. Since then, the Birmingham, Alabama, native has paid visits to Oregon and Auburn and both have emerged as viable options for the 6’1, 185lbs player.

Offord earned the recognition after a 2022 season that saw him make an impact on offense defense and on special teams. He is ranked the No.10 prospect in the On3 industry rankings and third in CB rankings nationwide. Offord is also the number 1 prospect out of Alabama and it seems Auburn may be slightly favored to land him.

On Monday, an On3 Recruits insider revealed Na’eem Offord’s love life could influence his decision to pick among Auburn, OSU, and Oregon. The insider noted, “He said it’s between Ohio State, Oregon, and Auburn. If he wants to go away for school, Ohio State and Oregon are fitting that bill. Auburn is the one school keeping him close to home, which could play a big role in his decision. He has a serious girlfriend here, which, as we know, can influence the choice.” Well, it looks like Auburn may have an edge in this battle, all down to Offord’s personal life.

Eight of Alabama’s top 10 recruits from the 2025 recruiting cycle have pledged to Auburn and if they can land Offord and Zion Grady, they will round off the top 10. Their chances are also boosted by the fact that Offord enjoys a good relationship with Tigers cornerback coach Wesley “Crime Dog” and other team members.

Offord talked about his connection with the Auburn program after his visit for the Alabama A&M game. “Not just Coach Crime. I ain’t gonna say just Coach Crime,”  game. “I ain’t going to lie. I’m going to be real. It’s everybody. Every time they see me, they are ready to see me. They are happy to see me and stuff like that.” Last Saturday, Auburn hosted Offord for the third time and he had only positive things to say.

Even though the Auburn Tigers’ ended up losing against the Vanderbilt Commodores and are now 3-6, this didn’t seem to deter Offord. Talking after the game, he had glowing reviews for the program and their freshman Jay Crawford.“For him to come in and be a big time impact player, it showed me a lot. It showed that Coach Crime (Wesley McGriff) is a good coach and knows how to coach his players and develop you. Jay Crawford is a coachable player and that just shows you the development right there,” he told On3.

He has been pledged to OSU since February, but the latest update about Offord’s relationship possibly affecting his final choice in favor of Auburn, isn’t good news. Interestingly, he has taken multiple visits to Auburn but has yet to attend a game at Ohio. But even though Auburn is in a strong position to get Offord to commit, Oregon is another strong contender.

Oregon put up a strong show for Offord’s visit during the Ohio game

Offord is openly looking for better options and has never denied considering other universities for a change. He was also present at Oregon for the Ducks’ game against Oregon, where the hosts won by a single point.

The Oregon Ducks definitely have an edge over the other two programs. They are currently one of the undefeated teams, winning nine consecutive games.

After them comes Na’eem Offord’s already committed team, Ohio State, with a seven-win and one-loss streak this season. But if Offord chooses the Auburn Tigers, it would seem the decision would be based on his personal preferences rather than their current form. With a 3-6 record, the Tigers haven’t exactly been setting the SEC on fire but may be in the driving seat to land their target.

Na’eem Offord’s thoughts on Auburn’s gameplay