Even without a defensive backs coach officially in place, Oklahoma is still in the thick of it when it comes to one of the top corners in the 2027 class. That’s how much belief there is in Brent Venables’ system - and in the Sooners’ long-term vision.
Taelyn Mayo, a consensus four-star cornerback and top-150 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle, just trimmed his list of schools down to five. And yes, Oklahoma made the cut.
He’s got the Sooners alongside Texas, LSU, Ohio State, and Texas A&M - a who’s who of college football powerhouses. That’s elite company, and it says a lot about where OU stands in the eyes of top-tier talent.
The timing here is interesting. Mayo’s announcement came the same day reports surfaced that Oklahoma is expected to hire LaMar Morgan from Michigan to replace Jay Valai as the Sooners’ defensive backs coach. So while the coaching chair isn’t officially filled yet, the recruiting train hasn’t slowed down one bit.
Mayo had previously released a top 10 back in October, but he’s now cut that list in half. Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Florida State, and Oregon are out.
That’s a big shift, considering the caliber of programs being left behind. He also held reported offers from a long list of schools, including Auburn, Georgia Tech, Florida, Kansas State, Missouri, Ole Miss, USC, and more.
His recruitment took off early - his first offer came from San Diego State in June 2023, right after his freshman year.
As far as visits go, Mayo’s only reported unofficial trip so far was to Florida State last June. And while there’s been plenty of coaching traffic headed to Texas to see him, there’s been no public word yet on Oklahoma making a recent visit.
Still, there are subtle signs pointing toward the Sooners. For one, Mayo’s been spotted wearing crimson and cream gloves - not exactly a coincidence when you’re narrowing down your top five.
And he’s clearly got strong ties with coaches in the region. In a post from August 2025, Mayo gave a shoutout to a coach he called “one of the best to ever coach me,” adding, “we still running it up.” The connection and continuity in his development matter, and it’s something that could play a role in where he ultimately lands.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Mayo ranks as the No. 135 overall prospect in the 2027 class and the No. 12 corner nationally. He’s also the No. 20 overall player in the state of Texas, coming out of Lewisville High School - a familiar pipeline for the Sooners. That’s where they landed offensive lineman Michael Fasusi, the crown jewel of their 2025 class.
Oklahoma’s 2027 class is already off to a scorching start. With 13 commits on board, it currently ranks No. 1 in the country, per the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.
If Mayo joins, he’d be the third corner in the class, alongside four-star Mikhail McCreary and three-star Mikyal Davis. Mayo, for what it’s worth, is ranked four spots higher than McCreary in the position rankings.
So while there’s still a long way to go in Mayo’s recruitment, Oklahoma’s positioning is strong. The Sooners are stacking talent early, and if they can close on a player like Mayo - especially during a coaching transition - it’ll be another sign that Venables and company are building something with staying power in Norman.