Cathedral Catholic football star Honor Fa'alave-Johnson picks USC

City's top player chooses Trojans at downtown event

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:03am

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Honor Fa'alave-Johnson, a star running back and defensive back at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, has committed to play football at the University of Southern California (USC). The announcement was made at a lavish commitment party held at a downtown San Diego hotel, where Fa'alave-Johnson revealed his decision in dramatic fashion by tossing aside a hat from one of his other finalist schools and putting on a USC hat.

Why it matters

Fa'alave-Johnson is considered one of the top high school football players in the San Diego area, and his commitment to USC is a major recruiting win for the Trojans' program. The elaborate announcement party highlights the increasing spectacle around top high school athletes' college decisions, as programs compete to land the best talent.

The details

Fa'alave-Johnson, a junior, narrowed his final college choices to USC, Oregon, Miami, Texas, LSU and Notre Dame. He cited his relationship with USC head coach Lincoln Riley as a key factor in his decision. While Fa'alave-Johnson was a standout running back in high school, earning CIF San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year honors, USC plans to use him primarily as a safety, though they will also find ways to get him involved on offense.

  • Fa'alave-Johnson attended a USC spring practice last week, though he said he didn't want to spoil the commitment party.
  • Fa'alave-Johnson will now focus on his senior season at Cathedral Catholic, where he plans to get the ball handed to him more often on offense.

The players

Honor Fa'alave-Johnson

A star running back and defensive back at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, who has committed to play football at the University of Southern California.

Lincoln Riley

The head football coach at the University of Southern California, who developed a strong relationship with Fa'alave-Johnson that was a key factor in his college decision.

Sean Doyle

The football coach at Cathedral Catholic High School for the past 30 seasons.

John Montali

The defensive coordinator at Cathedral Catholic High School, who believes the Trojans will be wise to devise offensive packages to take advantage of Fa'alave-Johnson's skills.

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What they’re saying

“I've never seen anything like this.”

— Sean Doyle, Cathedral Catholic football coach (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“The relationship I have with (head coach) Lincoln Riley, he's a big fan of mine. I'm just excited to get out there.”

— Honor Fa'alave-Johnson (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“He's a heck of a defender. But he's as electrifying as any offensive player I've ever seen. … He's a durable guy. He could easily play100% of snaps on defense and carry the ball five to eight times. He's a strong kid.”

— John Montali, Cathedral Catholic defensive coordinator (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“Everything he talked about over time was about his family and being close to home. He's a pretty centered kid. Family is important to him.”

— Sean Doyle, Cathedral Catholic football coach (San Diego Union-Tribune)

What’s next

Fa'alave-Johnson will now focus on his senior season at Cathedral Catholic, where he plans to get the ball handed to him more often on offense.

The takeaway

Fa'alave-Johnson's commitment to USC highlights the growing spectacle around top high school athletes' college decisions, as programs compete to land the best talent. His decision was driven by his strong relationship with the Trojans' coaching staff and the desire to stay close to home, showcasing the importance of personal connections and family in the recruiting process.