// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Jalen Mayo? Mayo-nly a great player.
| No. 2 – Houston Cougars | |
|---|---|
| Position | Cornerback |
| Class |  |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Phoebus (Hampton, Virginia) |
| College | Virginia Union (2022–2024) Stephen F. Austin (2025) Houston (2026–present) |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at ESPN | |
Jalen Mayo is an American college football cornerback for the Houston Cougars. He previously played for the Virginia Union Panthers and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.
Early life
[edit]Mayo attended Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia, where he excelled in football as a wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior in 2021, he earned first-team all-state honors at both positions after tallying 34 receptions for 585 yards and seven touchdowns on offense and seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups on defense.[1] Mayo helped the Phantoms compile a 14–1 record and win the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 state championship.[2] Mayo returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 28–7 win over the defending state champions, Hopewell High School, in the regional playoffs.[3][4] In the state title game the next month, he caught a touchdown in the first quarter before notching an interception in the final minute of a 22–14 win over Liberty Christian Academy, securing the school's eighth state championship in 20 years.[2]
Mayo was an unrated recruit.[5][6] He received just one college offer from Virginia Union University, a school located about 30 minutes from his home in Hampton with an Division II football program,[7] and signed to play for the Panthers on National Signing Day in February 2022.[8]
College career
[edit]As a freshman in 2022, Mayo took a redshirt after suffering an ankle injury and did not play any games.[7][9] In 2023, he registered 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions, and three pass breakups,[10] earning Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) all-rookie accolades.[11] In 2024, Mayo recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and seven pass breakups.[12] He also helped the Panthers win back-to-back CIAA titles.[9]
Mayo transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University to play for the Lumberjacks.[7] In 2025, he posted 48 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and one forced fumble,[13] helping the Lumberjacks win the Southland Conference title.[14] Mayo earned first-team all-Southland honors,[15] and was named a second-team FCS All-American by multiple publications.[16][17] He entered the NCAA transfer portal after the season and was rated as the No. 9 and No. 27 cornerback in the portal by Rivals.com and 247Sports, respectively.[18][19]
Mayo transferred to the University of Houston during the January 2026 transfer window to play for the Cougars,[20] following his former cornerbacks coach Marcus Trice, who had been hired in the same role with the Cougars a few weeks prior.[7] After a strong performances in the spring and fall camps,[21][22] Mayo was named a starter at cornerback heading into the 2026 season.
References
[edit]- ↑ "Phoebus, King's Fork standouts are named top players on all-state football teams". The Virginian-Pilot. December 20, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- 1 2 "Phoebus beats Liberty Christian, wins eighth state title in 20 years". Daily Press. December 11, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo's 2 interception returns for touchdowns spark Phoebus' victory over Hopewell". The Virginian-Pilot. November 20, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo made a promise to his coach. He kept his word and Phoebus is in the region title game". The Virginian-Pilot. November 24, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo, Phoebus, Cornerback". 247Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo - Phoebus - Cornerback". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Duarte, Joseph (July 23, 2026). "How Jalen Mayo went from 'zero offers' out of high school to Houston Cougars starting cornerback". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Football Signs 14 on National Signing Day". Virginia Union Panthers. February 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- 1 2 "Jalen Mayo - Football". Houston Cougars. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2023 Football Cumulative Statistics". Virginia Union Panthers. Retrieved September 2, 2026. Click "Individual" followed by "Defense".
- ↑ "CIAA Announces 2023 Football All-Conference Teams and Superlatives". Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. November 10, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "2024 Football Cumulative Statistics". Virginia Union Panthers. Retrieved September 2, 2026. Click "Individual" followed by "Defense".
- ↑ "2025 Football Cumulative Statistics". Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Craven, Mike (January 21, 2026). "Breaking Down Houston's 2026 Transfer Portal Class". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Southland Announces 2025 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives". Southland Conference. November 25, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ McKinnell, Zachary (December 15, 2025). "2025 FCS Football Central All-American Team". FCS Football Central. SI.com. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Haley, Craig (December 17, 2025). "2025 Stats Perform FCS All-America and Freshman Teams". Opta Analyst. Stats Perform. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo - Houston - Cornerback". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Jalen Mayo, Houston, Cornerback". 247Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Transfer Portal Signing Central: Ballers Coming". Houston Cougars. January 5, 2026. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ DiPasquale, Jackson (April 18, 2026). "Houston spring game recap, players that stood out throughout the game". Coogs247. 247Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2026.
- ↑ Gupta, Maanav (September 2, 2026). "Six Houston Position Rooms, Six Breakout Candidates to Watch". Houston Cougars on SI. SI.com. Retrieved September 2, 2026.