Building off the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the class of 2026, Head Coach Lincoln Riley and his staff have already secured several top prospects for the next recruiting cycle.

So far, inside receiver and tight ends coach Chad Savage has led the process, bringing in both defensive and offensive players for the Trojans. USC already has the No. 13 recruiting class for 2027, according to 247Sports.

Savage, who was recently promoted to pass game coordinator, tutored junior wide receiver Makai Lemon last season en route to winning the 2025 Biletnikoff Award. He now looks to work with Riley on offense while continuing his role as one of the top young assistant coaches in the sport.

On the defensive side, the departure of former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn created the opening for Riley to bring in former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to lead the defense. Since then, the Hall of Fame coach has worked with Savage to shape USC’s current and future defense, including recruiting one of the fastest players in high school football.

Top California athlete stays in SoCal

Safety Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, ESPN’s No. 19-ranked player and top-rated safety, officially committed to USC on March 14, making him the Trojans’ first five-star recruit for the class of 2027. The Cathedral Catholic High School standout from San Diego will stay in Southern California despite offers from top programs such as Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame.

Advised by fellow San Diego native and USC alum Marcus Allen, the best safety in the 2027 class looks to play on both offense and defense at USC. Similar to Allen, Fa’alave-Johnson plays running back in addition to his high level of play as a safety.

In his most recent high school season, he reached 22.7 mph on a touchdown run, making him the fastest recorded high school football player to date.

Across his three-year high school career on defense, Fa’alave-Johnson has totaled 120 tackles and five interceptions while defending 19 passes. On offense, he has rushed for 2,388 yards and totaled 36 rushing and eight receiving touchdowns.

Fa’alave-Johnson and Riley will have to decide if he will continue to play on both sides of the field, something not prominently seen in collegiate football since 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Either way, Fa’alave-Johnson’s speed has already gained him national recognition and set him apart from most recruits in the 2027 class.

Multiple star prospects round out early recruiting

Before Fa’alave-Johnson’s commitment, the Trojans had already secured several top-ranked prospects, including ESPN’s No. 58-ranked player and four-star wide receiver Quentin Hale.

The Centennial High School star and ninth-ranked wide receiver for the class of 2027 will also stay in Southern California, similar to Fa’alave-Johnson. So far in his three-year varsity career, Hale has racked up over 2,000 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.

Despite receiving offers from top wide receiver programs such as Oregon, Ohio State and Alabama, Hale decided on USC. He was the second of two top wide receivers to commit to USC in back-to-back weeks in February.

The first receiver was Eli Woodard, from Chaparral High School, and another commit who will remain local. Woodard, the No. 26 wide receiver in the 2027 class, has accumulated 24 receiving touchdowns and over 1,600 yards in his high school career.

Similar to Hale, the three-star recruit also received an offer from Oregon but ultimately chose USC.

On defense, Aaryn Washington, the ninth-ranked cornerback and four-star prospect, was the first class of 2027 recruit to commit to USC on Jan. 10. Washington, who recently transferred from Mater Dei High School to the renowned IMG Academy, will look to bolster the defense alongside Fa’alave-Johnson in 2027.

Although he suffered an injury in his junior year, limiting him to just two games, Washington still recorded three interceptions and defended four passes.

Improving upon one of the best recruiting classes in program history will be difficult for USC, but Riley and his coaching staff are already building a strong case for another top-ranked class for 2027.