The USC Trojans are looking to continue a trend from their 2026 recruiting class, trying to land the top in-state recruits.
The USC Trojans had a lot of success when it came to in-state recruiting during the 2026 cycle. Over half of their 2026 recruiting class hailed from California. Now, the Trojans are hoping to use that momentum into the 2027 cycle.
One of their top targets in the cycle isDec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Utah Utes during the second half in the PAC-12 Football Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images“The Trojans remain the frontrunner in his recruitment – family being so close and how USC wants to use him are two big factors – as Fa’alave-Johnson isn’t thinking about too many junior day visits and is more focused on meeting the coaches on his turf,” Gorney said. Fa’alave-Johnson attends Cathedral Catholic, which is located in San Diego. If he is looking to stay close to home, USC is located 110 miles away and a short drive up the I-5 Freeway. Compared to other schools that are in the mix like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Oregon, the Trojans can easily sell themselves as the hometown team.Oct 15, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches warm ups prior to a game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images Checking in as the No. 1 safety and No. 20 player in the country according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings, Fa’alave-Johnson is the Golden State’s top rated player. The five-star safety is very familiar with USC. He’s taken four visits to Los Angeles. The Trojans have a 63 percent chance of landing Fa’alave-Johnson’s commitment according to Rivals' Recruiting Prediction Machine. With 37 offers, he is one of the most sought-after players in the country and for good reason. Originally listed as an athlete, Fa’alave-Johnson made the decision to prioritize the defensive side of the ball at the next level. Fa’alave-Johnson is athletic enough to play both ways if needed and could be used in a similar way to Oregon safety Koi Perich. Formerly at Minnesota, Perich attempted to play a bit of offense this past season after breaking out onto the national stage after a stellar freshman season at safety in 2024.MORE: The Underrated Reason Why The Gary Patterson Hire At USC Will Work Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before the game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesHe is ranked as the No. 8 safety and No. 90 player in the country according to 247Sports' rankings. Williams is the No. 2 safety in California behind Fa'alave-Johnson. The RPM gives the Trojans a 36 percent chance of landing Williams. USC has been hot on the trail for four-star safety Danny Lang as well. Lang can play multiple positions in the secondary, including safety, but is listed as the No. 9 cornerback and No. 57 player in the country. The Trojans were given a 95 percent chance of landing the in-state native by the RPM.Residing in Los Angeles, Gabriel Duarte is a senior at Cal State Northridge and is pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism. Gabriel is passionate about college athletics and is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and Oregon Ducks on SI. Gabriel has covered many college sporting events around the Southern California area including basketball and football for USC. Gabriel also writes for his local newspaper on high school sports.
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