Sooners shouldn't get too excited about an elite 2027 four-star recruit who placed Oklahoma in his top-five

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 9:31 PM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners have landed in the top five of one of the best players in the state of Texas. As we all know, the Sooners recruit extremely well in Texas; however, landing in the top five for this player isn’t exactly something the Sooners should be celebrating.

Taelyn Mayo is the No. 3 cornerback in Texas and No. 13 in the country. He’s a four-star with offers from nearly every blue-blood. Right now, only five schools are in contention as he nears his commitment, and though the Sooners made the list, they’re near the bottom.

Taelyn Mayo reveals his top five, and the Sooners seem to be outside the top three

Mayo is one of the best players in the country, potentially a top 100 player by the time he gets on campus in 2027. So, of course, the Sooners want him. However, based on what he’s told Rivals about his recruit, there are other blue-bloods who are easily leading the way right now.

Two of those schools are SEC foes in the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies.

NEWS: Four-Star CB Taelyn Mayo is down to 5 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’4 185 CB is ranked as a Top 3 CB in Texas (per Rivals Industry)

Where Should He Go? ⬇️https://t.co/0QixJYrkAH pic.twitter.com/8chFkj7lkp
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 11, 2026

“LSU stands out to me because of the culture, player development, and the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the SEC,” Mayo told Rivals. “While being pushed to be great on and off the field, the relationship with Corey Raymond. Ohio State is at the forefront of my recruitment because of its history of winning, elite development, and the standard of excellence they demand from everyone in the program.

“Texas A&M is a school I’m seriously considering because of the coaching staff, top-tier facilities, and the strong family atmosphere they’ve built within the program, and a program that pushes players to always dominate at the highest level.”

The Sooners previously led Mayo’s recruitment, with a 20% projection from Rivals. His main recruiter, Jay Valai, left for the Buffalo Bills. That setback likely hurt the Sooners’ chances.

Oklahoma has two cornerback commits for 2027. OU remains favored for Gabriel Osborne Jr. and JuJu Johnson.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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