Lane Kiffin hasn’t wasted a moment since arriving in Baton Rouge. With the transfer portal window now closed, the new LSU head coach is shifting his focus to the high school ranks-and one name at the top of the Tigers’ board is Taelyn Mayo, a highly coveted four-star cornerback out of Lewisville, Texas.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 185 pounds, Mayo brings elite size to the cornerback position, the kind of frame that defensive coordinators dream about when matching up against today’s towering wideouts. Ranked as the No. 12 corner and No. 135 overall prospect in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite, Mayo has quickly become one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the nation.
This week, Mayo trimmed his list of suitors down to five, and LSU made the cut. Joining the Tigers in his top group: Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M. That’s a who’s who of college football powerhouses, and it's a sign of just how big this recruiting battle is shaping up to be.
Back in October, Mayo had a top-10 list that included Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, and Oregon. Those schools are now out of the running, leaving a tightly contested race among programs known for producing NFL talent. Interestingly, Mayo has kept a low profile throughout the process-he’s only taken one unofficial visit so far, and that was to Florida State last June.
For LSU, landing Mayo would be a huge win, not just because of his talent, but because it would send a message that Kiffin and his staff can go toe-to-toe with the best recruiters in the country. LSU already has a strong tradition of producing top-tier defensive backs-think Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, and Derek Stingley Jr.-and Mayo fits the mold of the next great Tiger DB.
Right now, LSU’s 2027 class is still in its early stages, with just two commitments: four-star EDGE Jaiden Bryant and four-star quarterback Peyton Houston. That duo has LSU sitting at No. 30 in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. But with Kiffin and his staff hitting the recruiting trail hard, there’s every reason to believe that number will climb as more top-tier talent joins the fold.
Mayo’s recruitment is far from over, but LSU is firmly in the mix-and with Kiffin’s track record and the Tigers’ defensive back pedigree, Baton Rouge could be a perfect fit for one of the top corners in the 2027 class.