USC’s 2027 recruiting class already has a headliner, and his name keeps coming up for good reason. Five-star athlete Honor Fa'alave-Johnson has become the centerpiece of the Trojans’ class, giving Lincoln Riley and his staff a prospect who brings both high-end talent and major local value.
Fa'alave-Johnson is the kind of recruit USC can build around. He can play on both sides of the ball, and that versatility is a big part of why he sits atop the Trojans’ 2027 haul.
Just as important, he chose to stay close to home. Oregon, Texas, and Miami all recruited him, and those schools were still chasing him before he shut things down and stuck with USC.
According to 247Sports, Fa'alave-Johnson is the No. 2 prospect in California, trailing only Miami commit Donte Wright. His commitment also matters beyond his own ranking.
USC has done well landing California talent in this cycle, with four-star cornerback Danny Lang, four-star wide receiver Quentin Hale, and four-star offensive tackle Drew Fielder among the notable additions. Even so, other programs have made inroads in the state, with Miami, Texas, Ohio State, and Texas A&M each holding commitments from a top-10 California recruit, per 247Sports.
That makes USC’s hold on Fa'alave-Johnson even more significant. The Trojans are trying to keep top local prospects from leaving the state, and that effort reaches beyond one player.
In the class of 2028, Texas Tech has already picked up California four-star offensive lineman Austin Attalah, another reminder that USC has to keep winning those battles if it wants to protect its home turf. Rebuilding ties with schools such as Mater Dei matters, but so does landing elite California talent no matter where it comes from.
ESPN also views Fa'alave-Johnson as one of the most important pieces in USC’s class. The network has the Trojans at No. 18 nationally and ranks Fa'alave-Johnson as the No. 20 overall recruit. ESPN analysts Craig Haubert and Billy Tucker singled him out as USC’s most impactful commit, pointing to what he could mean as the roster turns over.
"The Trojans have a veteran group of safeties this season, but that will not be the case entering 2027. Though the portal will be an option to add experience, five-star Fa'alave-Johnson, USC's highest-rated commit, fits that need.
The two-way standout has the talent to be effective on both sides of the ball. Fa'alave-Johnson combines 10.6-second 100-meter speed with strong football instincts.
Even if USC brings in transfers, Fa'alave-Johnson has the talent to make an early impact," wrote Haubert and Tucker.
That kind of profile explains why other programs kept pressing. Fa'alave-Johnson has the tools to help USC under Riley and defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, and he has continued to draw attention from schools trying to flip him, including Texas. Still, he has stayed firm on USC and publicly backed that decision.
He told USC Trojans on SI’s Kendell Hollowell why he chose the Trojans and how he views the programs still coming after him.
“The coaching staff made me a priority to the team, and I think I could contribute to the team next year, and just be a hard worker,” Fa’alave-Johnson told USC Trojans on SI. "I'm blessed for them reaching out, but I'm happy where I am,” Fa’alave-Johnson said.
Fa'alave-Johnson will be able to make his commitment official during the early national signing period in December of 2026.
In Other News...
Texas Heads Into SEC Play With One Big Offensive Concern
Texas finished its non-conference slate unbeaten and healthy after a 30-6 win over UTSA, and that alone is a useful place to be heading into SEC play. The Longhorns got the kind of defensive outing they have come to expect, holding the Roadrunners to 143 total yards, while Derrick Cooper Jr. added a fresh wrinkle in the backfield with 44 yards and a touchdown.
The bigger question sits on the other side of the ball, where Arch Mannings day underscored both the upside and the unevenness of the passing game. He threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns, but the rhythm was not always there, leaving Texas with a little bit to clean up before the competition gets much tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Major Defensive Concern Before Tennessee
Texas got a jolt of concern on the defensive side when Colin Simmons was spotted on the sideline in street clothes and wearing a walking boot during the UTSA game. Simmons has been a key edge rusher for the Longhorns, so even the sight of him away from the action immediately changed the temperature around a unit that has otherwise tried to build more depth at that spot this season.
Steve Sarkisian did not offer an update on Simmons at halftime, and no official information has been released since, leaving Texas with more questions than answers as Tennessee approaches next week. The Longhorns have worked to add depth at edge rusher, but losing or even limiting a player like Simmons would be a significant development for a defense that needs as many answers as it can get right now. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Win Over UTSA Still Left Fans With One Big Concern
Texas handled UTSA in a 30-6 non-conference win, and there were enough encouraging signs to make the afternoon feel like a step in the right direction. Arch Manning came out sharp enough to set the tone, the running game found some support from Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown and Derrek Cooper, and Cam Coleman finished as the top target with two touchdown catches. On the other side of the ball, Texas did what it was supposed to do, holding UTSA to 70 rushing yards and getting an interception from Rasheem Biles.
Still, the result did not erase the biggest question hovering over the Longhorns afterward. Manning's line finished at 164 passing yards with two touchdowns, but the inconsistency showed up often enough that it left fans wanting more than just a comfortable win over an overmatched opponent. For a Texas team with bigger goals ahead, the margin of victory was fine, yet the passing game still has to look a lot steadier before the schedule gets more demanding. [Read more 🡒]