Mario Cristobal has made it clear: Miami’s national championship run wasn’t just a flash in the pan - it was a statement. Now comes the harder part: proving it wasn’t a one-off. And few recruiting battles will test that belief more than the one for Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, the top-ranked safety in the country.
Fa’alave-Johnson, a two-way standout at San Diego Cathedral Catholic, dropped his spring visit schedule on Monday, and it’s a gauntlet of powerhouse programs. Seven visits.
Seven national brands. Miami gets the first crack, hosting him March 5-7.
After that, it’s a who’s who of college football: Oregon, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, and Notre Dame. That’s the kind of lineup you see in playoff brackets, not recruiting itineraries.
For Cristobal and the Hurricanes, landing Fa’alave-Johnson would be more than just a recruiting win - it would be proof that Miami’s resurgence isn’t limited to the Sunshine State. Because while the Canes have cleaned up in Florida - signing 31 prospects in the 2026 cycle, including 10 blue-chips from their own backyard - this is a different kind of battle. This is about taking on the West Coast elite, and winning.
Right now, USC holds the edge. The Trojans have the home-state advantage, a legacy of elite playmakers at the position (yes, those Reggie Bush comparisons are still floating around), and a smaller recruiting class that promises more individualized attention.
Oregon made early noise in the race, and the Ducks are still firmly in the mix. Miami?
They're the outsider - the East Coast program trying to flip a California star based on one electric season and a title-game appearance.
Cristobal knows the stakes. He told On3’s J.D.
PicKell that Miami is often the target of negative recruiting - not something the Hurricanes engage in, he says, but something they constantly face. “We don’t get into negative recruiting, but people always negative recruit us,” Cristobal said.
“Let’s just let it play out.”
It’s a fair point. When you’re the team on the rise, others are going to try to poke holes in your momentum.
But this is where Cristobal’s message - and Miami’s performance - has to do the talking. The Hurricanes may have beaten Florida and Florida State for in-state talent, but Fa’alave-Johnson is the kind of national recruit who forces programs to prove their ceiling.
And timing matters. Miami gets the first visit, which is huge for setting the tone.
But Notre Dame gets the last word with an April 24 visit, and that’s a long seven weeks for Miami to stay top of mind. Recency bias is real, especially in a recruitment this competitive.
Fa’alave-Johnson didn’t attend many junior days in January - Cal was the lone exception - opting instead to let coaches come to him. Now, he’s hitting the trail, and every visit will be scrutinized.
What kind of energy does the program bring? How do the coaches connect?
What’s the vibe in the locker room? These are the intangibles that can sway a decision, even for a five-star talent.
Cristobal is banking on the momentum from Miami’s championship run to carry into this next phase. He pointed to the Cotton Bowl atmosphere against Ohio State as a moment that stuck with recruits.
“That place was just going bananas and was filled up with orange and green,” he said. That kind of environment - loud, passionate, electric - resonates with players who see themselves under those lights.
But here’s the reality: Miami built a top-10 class without landing a single five-star from the West Coast. They dominated locally, but that came with an asterisk - Florida State stumbled, and Florida hit the reset button with a coaching change.
Miami capitalized, no doubt, but now they face a level playing field. Programs like USC, Alabama, and Ohio State aren’t reeling.
They’re reloading.
This is the test. Can Miami close on a national level when everyone else is at full strength? Can Cristobal turn a championship appearance into sustained national recruiting power?
Honor Fa’alave-Johnson won’t make that decision alone, but his recruitment is a litmus test. If Miami can land him, it sends a message: The U isn’t just back - it’s here to stay.