If the Oklahoma Sooners are looking for an edge in the recruitment of 2027 cornerback Trenton Blaylock, they may not need to look much further than their own locker room.
Blaylock, a rising defensive back out of Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas, is firmly on the radar of several SEC programs - Texas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Texas A&M among them. But Oklahoma has something none of those other schools can offer: a built-in family connection.
Trenton’s older brother, Tory Blaylock, is already making noise in Norman. The younger Blaylock may be a three-star recruit by the rankings, but his bloodline - and the Sooners’ track record with it - could be the deciding factor.
Tory signed with Oklahoma as part of the 2025 class and wasted no time making an impact. As a freshman, he led the Sooners in rushing yards and became a key piece of the offense. Now, his younger brother is on the recruiting board, and Tory’s influence could be just as valuable off the field as it is on it.
Earlier this week, recruiting insider Sam Spiegelman reported that Oklahoma is in the thick of the race for Trenton, alongside several SEC contenders. A fan on social media nudged Tory to do his part in the recruitment process - and Tory didn’t shy away from the challenge, replying with a lighthearted, “Let me see what I can do.”
That kind of family pull is hard to quantify, but it’s very real - especially in a household like the Blaylocks’. Their father, Derrick, played running back at Stephen F.
Austin before carving out a six-year NFL career. These days, he trains high-level high school athletes, including his own sons.
The Blaylock family tree runs deep in college football. The oldest brother, Travian, was a defensive back at Wisconsin from 2018 to 2023.
Taylen, another brother, played in the secondary as well, suiting up for Lindenwood, Sam Houston State, and Furman during his college career. Tory is the only one to follow in his father’s footsteps as a running back - and the only one still playing at the collegiate level, giving Trenton a chance to reunite with a brother on the field.
Trenton, listed as the No. 44 cornerback in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite, has drawn interest from across the country. His offer sheet includes Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and several others. Like Tory, he plays at Atascocita, a program that continues to churn out Division I talent.
While Trenton hasn’t taken an official visit to Norman yet, he was a frequent visitor during the 2025 season to watch Tory in action. And it looks like the Sooners are keeping the relationship warm.
On Thursday, Trenton posted on social media that Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and assistant defensive backs coach Xavier Brewer visited him at his high school. The message was clear: the Sooners are serious about bringing another Blaylock to town.
Oklahoma has already shown a knack for recruiting family ties under Venables. In 2025, Peyton and Eli Bowen both started in the Sooners’ secondary.
The Hawkins brothers, Michael and Maliek, were also on the roster that year before transferring to West Virginia together this offseason. And running back Gabe Sawchuk joined the program after his brother Gavin - though Gavin has since moved on.
That kind of continuity and familiarity matters. For a player like Trenton, who’s watched his brother thrive in Norman and has seen firsthand what the program offers, the path to becoming a Sooner may feel more like a homecoming than a commitment.
The competition for Trenton’s signature is heating up, but Oklahoma’s pitch isn’t just about facilities, playing time, or scheme. It’s personal. And in the world of recruiting, that can go a long way.