Oklahoma’s secondary is heading into 2026 with real star power, and Courtland Guillory is suddenly right at the center of the conversation.
The Sooners already know what they have in Guillory and junior Eli Bowen. Both earned freshman All-American honors in their first seasons in Norman, giving Oklahoma a cornerback pairing that looks as good as any in college football on paper.
Guillory, a former three-star prospect, didn’t just fill in last season when Bowen was sidelined by injury - he forced his way into a starting role early and kept it even after Bowen came back. When Bowen returned, the move was made on the other side, a strong sign of how well Guillory had played.
His production backed that up. Guillory closed the year with 41 tackles, one tackle for loss and seven pass deflections, numbers that helped fuel a strong national impression of his game.
That impression got even louder from On3’s J.D. PicKell, who didn’t hold back when talking about Guillory’s ceiling entering 2026.
"The one underclassman they're going to play is Courtland Guillory, sophomore corner," PicKell said. "I've said it before, he might be the best DB in the SEC, period. Now, he has to play that way, but I have no reservations about leaving No. 4 out there on an island and letting him do his thing."
That’s a hefty statement, and the upcoming season will be the proving ground. Guillory has already shown he can hang with top young defensive backs, but the SEC is a different weekly grind. Every game brings another test against some of the country’s best receivers, and that’s where the hype either sticks or fades.
If Guillory keeps climbing alongside Bowen, Oklahoma may end up with one of the toughest cornerback duos anyone has to deal with all season.
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