The Oregon Ducks wrapped up the 2025 recruiting cycle with the highest percentage of blue chip players in the country, headlined by an explosive and talented trio of defensive backs that gives their secondary a backbone to build on for years to come. One those defensive backs is Na'eem Offord, On3's 12th-ranked recruit in the country.
Offord, like many of the best athletes in high school, contribute to their teams in a variety of ways. He was a shut-down corner, played some wide receiver, and served as a returner, proving that he's an explosive defensive player with ball skills.
As for his role on the Oregon Ducks, it looks like the coaching staff knows exactly where they want to deploy him.
Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi praised Na'eem Offord's versatility to play every position in the secondary.
— That Show Out West (@ThatShowOutWest) February 5, 2025
"We've recruited him to play corner... has a great opportunity to play corner for us." pic.twitter.com/m64SdoPIGZ
Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi was asked about Offord and how he factors into the Oregon defense, specifically if he has the tools to play anywhere in the secondary.
"I think he's capable of that," Lupoi said. "You know, we've recruited him to play corner. He's a guy, in our system, that whether at corner or what most people refer to as the nickel, what we call our star, in our position, like this guy certainly has versatility. And then the physicality he's shown too, I wouldn't have any reservation with putting him at any one of the five spots. I think he has a dynamic skill set and has a great opportunity to play corner for us."
This goes against some previous reports that said the Ducks were going to use Offord as a safety and as a nickel. Lupoi made it clear that they recruited him as a corner, but that they see that Offord has the potential to be a major weapon for the Oregon Ducks no matter where they line him up. For Ducks fans, it remains to be seen how much of an impact Offord makes for the Ducks in year one.
With the talent and flexibility to play pretty much anywhere on defense, it might be hard to keep him off the field for long.
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