USC Recruiting Target Pole Moala Reclassifying to 2027 Class

The 4-star safety is looking to play college football a year earlier than originally planned.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:00am

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Pole Moala, a highly-touted 4-star safety recruit in the class of 2028, is now seeking to reclassify to the 2027 recruiting class. This would allow the 6-0, 165-pound prospect from Rancho Santa Margarita, California to potentially play college football a year earlier than originally planned. Moala has received an offer from USC, who is one of the frontrunners to land his commitment.

Why it matters

Moala's reclassification would be a major boost for whichever program is able to land his commitment, as he is ranked as the No. 4 safety in the 2028 class. USC's recruiting efforts will now be accelerated as they look to secure Moala's pledge before other top programs get involved.

The details

As a sophomore in 2025-26, Moala excelled on both offense and defense for his high school team. He caught 6 passes for 97 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also recording 45 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. Moala told recruiting analyst Adam Gorney that he expects his reclassification to the 2027 class to be finalized within the next week, meaning his recruitment will now be on the fast track.

  • Moala was originally in the class of 2028.
  • Moala is now seeking to reclassify to the 2027 recruiting class, which would make him eligible to play college football a year earlier.

The players

Pole Moala

A 4-star safety prospect from Rancho Santa Margarita, California who is ranked as the No. 4 safety in the 2028 recruiting class.

Lincoln Riley

The head coach of the USC Trojans, who have offered Moala a scholarship and are considered one of the frontrunners to land his commitment.

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What they’re saying

“There's been an update that they're still trying to get my classes figured out for the summer, but for the most part I'll be reclassifying to the 2027 class by next week. Everything is moving faster now so it's pretty exciting so I just have to work harder because this will now be my senior year.”

— Pole Moala, Recruit

What’s next

Moala's reclassification to the 2027 class is expected to be finalized within the next week, accelerating his recruitment and putting pressure on USC and other top programs to secure his commitment.

The takeaway

Pole Moala's decision to reclassify a year early is a significant development that will have major implications for his recruitment. USC and other top programs will now be in a race to land the talented 4-star safety before his stock rises even further.