Jaylen Scott, one of the most coveted defensive backs in the 2027 recruiting cycle, is starting to bring some clarity to his college decision-and Oklahoma is firmly in the mix.
The four-star safety out of Mobile, Alabama, announced his top five schools on Friday, and the Sooners made the cut alongside Tennessee, Georgia, Miami, and Florida State. That’s a strong group of contenders, but Oklahoma’s recent push-both on the field and on the recruiting trail-has the Sooners in a promising position.
Scott’s recruitment has already seen its share of twists. He’s been committed twice before, first to Florida State in early 2025, then to Auburn that summer. But after Auburn’s coaching shakeup in December, Scott reopened his recruitment, and things have only picked up steam since.
Oklahoma isn’t wasting any time making its case. Head coach Brent Venables, along with defensive assistants Brandon Hall and Todd Bates, were on campus to visit Scott earlier this week.
And Scott’s already got his next stop lined up: a March 7 visit to Norman, which will be his first reported trip to OU. That visit could be a pivotal moment in his recruitment.
Scott posted about the visit on social media, thanking the OU staff and tagging the coaches who made the trip. That kind of public appreciation doesn’t always mean a commitment is coming, but it does show the Sooners are making a strong impression.
Meanwhile, Scott’s week has been filled with attention from heavy hitters. Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Auburn’s new head coach Alex Golesh both made the trip to see him, as did Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and Miami defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge. Still, despite the in-person push from Alabama and Auburn-two programs right in Scott’s backyard-neither made the final five.
Florida State, however, is back in the picture. The Seminoles were Scott’s first commitment, and their reappearance in his top five suggests there’s still mutual interest there. But with his recruitment heating up again, this next stretch of visits and conversations will be telling.
From a rankings standpoint, Scott is the No. 16 safety in the 2027 class and the No. 153 overall prospect nationally, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s also the No. 5 player in Alabama-a state where Oklahoma has been increasingly active. The Sooners’ staff has even leaned into the trend with the social media hashtag "#BamaSooners," signaling their intent to keep pulling talent out of SEC country.
Should Scott choose Oklahoma, he’d be the first safety in the Sooners’ 2027 class, joining an already impressive group of defensive talent. The secondary is starting to take shape with commitments from cornerbacks Mikhail McCreary and Mikyal Davis. Up front, the Sooners have secured pledges from four-star linebacker Taven Epps, four-star edge rusher Krew Jones, four-star defensive tackle Elija Harmon, and three-star tackle Deven Robertson.
Landing Scott would be another big win for Brent Venables and his staff-not just for the talent he brings, but for what it would signal about Oklahoma’s ability to compete for elite defenders in SEC territory. With a visit to Norman on the horizon, the Sooners have a real shot to close the deal.