Five-star Honor Fa’alave-Johnson locks in with USC after Texas push

Last week, we got rumors that Texas was making a strong push to flip five-star athlete Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, who is currently committed to USC. Suddenly, the Trojans were seemingly in danger of losing one of the centerpieces of their 2027 recruiting class.

Fortunately for USC, that no longer seems to be a concern. On Tuesday, Hayes Fawcett of Rivals reported that Fa’alave-Johnson has shut down his recruitment and is locked in with the Trojans.

“Fa'alave-Johnson was one recruit USC couldn't afford to lose this cycle,” Blair Angulo of 247Sports wrote. “Not after the years-long pursuit of a player that could impact at either safety, nickel or running back. And not after erasing an early deficit to the Ducks to eke out an initial battle for an in-state priority.

“A deep contingent of USC staffers made the trek down from Los Angeles to the San Diego area via helicopter Tuesday. It was an all-out effort to close the deal for good.

“Although it may appear strange to see a committed prospect announce that his recruitment is shut down, it's now another indicator of the constant fluidity in high-profile battles.

“It should also serve as a reassuring message for the Trojans, who couldn't afford to see their agreement with the face of their class crumble.”

The fact that USC traveled down to San Diego to visit with Fa’alave-Johnson in-person upon hearing the Texas rumors shows how much they value ensuring that he stays committed. It is also a great sign that the Trojans have their act together on the recruiting trail, and are no longer letting other schools push them around.