Brent Venables and his Oklahoma staff are building something serious in Norman - and it looks like they might be on the verge of adding another key piece to their already impressive 2027 recruiting class. The Sooners are trending in the right direction for four-star safety Jaylen Scott, one of the top defensive backs in the country.
Several recruiting insiders have recently logged predictions for Scott to land with Oklahoma, including respected voices in the industry who don’t throw around those picks lightly. It’s the kind of momentum that’s hard to ignore, especially with the way the Sooners have been recruiting on the defensive side of the ball.
Venables, along with defensive assistants Brandon Hall and Todd Bates, made the trip to visit Scott at his high school earlier this week - a clear sign of how high he is on their board. That in-person connection seemed to move the needle, with predictions for Scott to join the Sooners coming in shortly after the visit.
But make no mistake: Oklahoma isn’t the only program in pursuit. Since that visit, Scott has also hosted Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, and Miami defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge. That’s a heavyweight group - and it speaks volumes about Scott’s talent and upside.
The Mobile, Alabama native has had a winding recruitment so far. He originally committed to Florida State in early 2025, then flipped to Auburn in June.
After Auburn’s coaching change late in the year, Scott decommitted in December and reopened his recruitment. Since then, he’s been one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the 2027 cycle.
Just in January alone, he’s picked up offers from Georgia, Florida, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. That’s on top of earlier offers from programs like Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee. He’s not just a regional name - he’s a national prospect.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Scott ranks as the No. 16 safety in the 2027 class and the No. 153 overall prospect. He’s also the No. 5 player in the state of Alabama - a region where Oklahoma has been putting in serious work on the trail.
The Sooners have even leaned into the #BamaSooners hashtag on social media, signaling their intent to make the Yellowhammer State a recruiting priority. They’ve already landed three-star wide receiver Tra’Von Hall out of Alabama for the 2027 class.
If Scott does commit, he’d be the first safety in the class for Oklahoma, but the third member of their future secondary, joining cornerbacks Mikhail McCreary and Mikyal Davis. That trio would form a strong foundation for the Sooners’ back end. And they’d be joining a defensive group that’s already stacked with four-star linebacker Taven Epps, four-star edge rusher Krew Jones, four-star defensive tackle Elija Harmon, and three-star defensive tackle Deven Robertson.
Venables has always been known for his defensive mind, and now he’s putting together the kind of talent on that side of the ball that can make a real difference in the SEC. Adding Jaylen Scott would be another big step in building a defense that can go toe-to-toe with the best in the country. The Sooners aren’t just recruiting - they’re reloading.