Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks brought in some of the top defensive backs in the country during the 2025 recruiting cycle, significantly strengthening their defense with high-level talent.
The Ducks secured the No. 2 ranked cornerback Na’eem Offord, the No. 5 CB Brandon Finney, the No. 8 CB Dorian Brew, and the No. 4 safety Trey McNutt, marking one of the best defensive back recruiting classes in Oregon’s history.
However, it seems one of these players may experience a position shift when he arrives in Eugene. Following his performance in the Under Armour All-American Game, Offord’s position label has been changed from cornerback to athlete (ATH), indicating he will likely move around the secondary and play wherever needed.
According to Sam Spiegelman of Rivals, Offord is anticipated to play either the nickel cornerback position or safety at Oregon, rather than solely remaining at outside cornerback.
His role in the nickel would involve covering slot receivers and split-out tight ends, a task he’s well-suited for due to his size—standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 185 pounds—and his athleticism.
The Ducks have a wealth of talent in their secondary this year, so it will be intriguing to see where Offord fits in. The projected starting cornerbacks are junior Jahlil Florence and senior Theran Johnson, while Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman, senior Kobe Savage, and junior Daylen Austin are expected to fill the safety and nickel positions in the deep secondary.
If Offord performs as expected, he could earn one of the five starting spots in the secondary. His commitment to Oregon wasn’t just a major victory in terms of his versatility on the field, but also for the influence he had in bringing others with him.
Offord’s half-brother, former Tulane running back Makhi Hughes, joined the Ducks through the transfer portal this offseason as the No. 1 available running back. After amassing two 1,000-yard seasons and over 20 touchdowns in his first two years, Hughes is projected to step in as the RB1 for Oregon in 2025.
