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5-Star Recruit Honor Fa'alave-Johnson Aims to Play Both Offense and Defense at USC
The versatile playmaker hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:37pm
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Five-star recruit Honor Fa'alave-Johnson is committed to USC and plans to play on both offense and defense for the Trojans. The San Diego Cathedral Catholic standout has proven his ability to impact games in multiple ways, mirroring the dominant high school production of former Colorado star Travis Hunter. Fa'alave-Johnson intends to continue his two-way role in college, and USC's coaching staff has been open to the possibility of utilizing his versatility.
Why it matters
Fa'alave-Johnson's desire to play on both sides of the ball is a rare feat in modern college football, with only a handful of players able to excel at that level of two-way play. If he can replicate the success of Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2024, Fa'alave-Johnson could emerge as a Heisman contender himself and give USC's head coach Lincoln Riley his first non-quarterback finalist for the prestigious award.
The details
Fa'alave-Johnson, a five-star safety prospect, committed to USC over other top programs like Oregon, Texas, and LSU. The Trojans' coaching staff has indicated that defense will likely be his primary position, with defensive backs coach Doug Belk leading his recruitment. However, USC has also been open to the possibility of giving Fa'alave-Johnson offensive opportunities, as the school hasn't had a player feature on both sides of the ball since Adoree Jackson from 2014-16.
- Fa'alave-Johnson's dominant junior season at Cathedral Catholic High School 'really opened my eyes and let me know I can really go both ways'.
- Fa'alave-Johnson committed to USC in 2026.
The players
Honor Fa'alave-Johnson
A five-star recruit from San Diego Cathedral Catholic High School who plans to play both offense and defense for the USC Trojans.
Lincoln Riley
The head coach of the USC Trojans, who has been open to the possibility of utilizing Fa'alave-Johnson's versatility on both sides of the ball.
Doug Belk
The defensive backs coach at USC, who is leading the recruitment of Fa'alave-Johnson as a defensive player.
Travis Hunter
The former Colorado Buffaloes player who won the Heisman Trophy in 2024 after dominating on both offense and defense in his historic season.
What they’re saying
“That's definitely the goal. I've been doing it all my life, so why stop now? So that's the goal.”
— Honor Fa'alave-Johnson (TMZ Sports)
What’s next
If Fa'alave-Johnson's development continues along this trajectory, the Trojans could eventually have one of the most versatile players in the sport, and he could even emerge as a Heisman contender himself, potentially giving Lincoln Riley his first non-quarterback candidate for college football's most prestigious award.
The takeaway
Fa'alave-Johnson's desire to play on both offense and defense at the collegiate level is a rare feat, with only a handful of players able to excel at that level of two-way play. If he can replicate the success of former Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Fa'alave-Johnson could become a transformative player for the USC Trojans and potentially a Heisman contender himself.
