OU football loses Jay Valai to Buffalo Bills, who will replace him for Sooners?

NORMAN — Jay Valai is leaving Oklahoma.

The Sooners’ cornerbacks coach for the past four seasons is headed to Buffalo to coach the Bills’ corners, according to multiple reports.

Valai is only the second defensive assistant to leave during coach Brent Venables’ tenure after former defensive coordinator Zac Alley left for West Virginia last offseason. He had received several new titles in recent years and was most recently OU’s assistant head coach for defense (co-defensive coordinator, pass defense, cornerbacks and nickelbacks).

Valai received a one-year contract extension last Friday, which included a $35,000 raise, making his annual salary $785,000. He was instrumental in the development of star Sooners cornerbacks Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory.

OU tried to keep Valai, but is now searching for a new cornerbacks coach.

More: OU Board of Regents approves hire of Roger Denny, slew of Sooners football contracts

Who might the Sooners hire as new cornerbacks coach?

Here is a list of potential candidates:

Oklahoma senior defensive analyst Xavier Brewer: Being on staff currently, Brewer is a possibility to be elevated. He has a long history with Venables, having played under him at Clemson, serving as a graduate assistant with the Tigers and an analyst at OU. He also has experience coaching cornerbacks at Louisiana-Monroe during the 2021 season.

UCLA defensive backs coach Gabe Lynn: A Sooners alum, Lynn coached UCLA’s safeties in 2025 and is set to coach the Bruins‘ nickels in 2026. The former three-year OU starter also has experience serving as Colorado’s quality control analyst and assistant director of player personnel.

Arkansas defensive backs coach TJ Rushing: One of the most promising names in the cornerbacks coach market, Rushing coached Auburn’s safeties in 2025. He’s set to serve as Arkansas’ defensive backs coach in 2026, but could Venables lure him to Norman? He has a reputation of being able to recruit at the highest of levels.

Kansas defensive backs coach Brandon Shelby: Shelby is another Sooners alum serving as a Power 4 defensive backs coach. He played under Venables at OU and would bring prior experience of coaching cornerbacks at Indiana and Louisiana-Monroe.

Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed: It would likely be tough for Venables to dip back into the Tigers’ pond for another coach. But, Reed has coached defensive backs at Clemson since 2013 and knows Venables well.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football loses Jay Valai to Buffalo Bills, who will replace him?

OU football loses Jay Valai to Buffalo Bills, who will replace him for Sooners?

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