Top 2027 Safety Recruit Narrows List to Six Schools

Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, the No. 1 safety prospect in the class, is considering Oregon, USC, and four other top programs.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, a highly-touted safety recruit from San Diego ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has narrowed his list of potential college destinations down to six schools: Miami, Texas, LSU, USC, Notre Dame, and Oregon. Fa'alave-Johnson is considered a do-it-all utility player who could see playing time on both offense and defense in college.

Why it matters

Landing Fa'alave-Johnson would be a major recruiting coup for whichever program is able to secure his commitment, as he is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2027 class. Both Oregon and USC are considered frontrunners for his services, which could have significant implications for the Pac-12 Conference's power structure in the coming years.

The details

Fa'alave-Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety, is ranked as the best player in California and the top safety in the 2027 class by both 247Sports and Rivals. In addition to his defensive skills, he is also capable of making plays on the offensive side of the ball. Oregon and USC are seen as the two programs most likely to land Fa'alave-Johnson, with Oregon's defensive-minded head coach Dan Lanning and USC's recent defensive improvements under Lincoln Riley potentially giving them an edge.

  • Fa'alave-Johnson narrowed his list of potential schools to six on February 13, 2026.

The players

Honor Fa'alave-Johnson

A 6-foot-1, 190-pound safety from San Diego, ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect and the top safety in the 2027 recruiting class.

Dan Lanning

The head coach of the Oregon Ducks, known for his defensive expertise after coordinating Georgia's defense to a national championship in 2021.

Lincoln Riley

The head coach of the USC Trojans, who has helped stabilize the team's defense in the past two seasons after becoming known for his offensive prowess.

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What’s next

Fa'alave-Johnson is expected to make his final college decision sometime in the summer before his senior season.

The takeaway

The recruitment of Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, one of the top defensive prospects in the 2027 class, will be a closely watched storyline as Oregon and USC, two of the Pac-12's powerhouses, vie for his commitment. Landing Fa'alave-Johnson could give a significant boost to whichever program is able to secure his services.