Sooners turn to unexpected Division-II transfer to hopefully patch alarming depth issue

The Oklahoma Sooners are checking around every corner of the Transfer Portal to find the depth pieces they need to succeed in 2026.

Transfer cornerback Peyton Taylor, from Division-II Emporia State in Kansas, is expected to visit Oklahoma on Thursday to potentially be another piece in the Sooners' deteriorated secondary, according to Collin Kennedy of 247Sports.

Emporia State transfer Peyton Taylor visiting Oklahoma

Despite coming from the Division-II level, Taylor has gotten nothing but FBS interest since entering the portal with two years of eligibility left. He's already visited Clemson and is scheduled to be at Arkansas on Friday, unless he commits to the Sooners first.

After redshirting in 2023, Taylor was a big-time contributor for Emporia State the past two seasons and just earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors. In 24 career games, Taylor posted 64 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and 19 pass deflections. He broke up 12 passes just this past season alone.

The Sooners are set at both corners with returning starters Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory, but other than Jacobe Johnson, OU lost all experienced depth at the position. Gentry Williams, Devon Jordan, Kendel Dolby and Maliek Hawkins all hit the portal this cycle to deplete the Sooners at cornerback. That left Johnson as the only reserve left with any real experience other than special teams or garbage time.

OU general manager Jim Nagy has tried to use the portal to replenish what it took away at corner. So far, the Sooners added Dakoda Fields from Oregon. Fields appeared in just three games in two years with the Ducks, but he can still provide depth and possibly even develop into more as a former consensus four-star recruit with three years of eligibility left.

Taylor could also add more depth in the secondary, and there's clearly something there despite where he comes from if multiple Power Four programs are after him.