Miami among top teams for 2027 4-star safety from California

Four‑star safety Honor Fa'alave‑Johnson, a 6‑foot, 180‑pound standout from Cathedral Catholic High School, is drawing serious national attention as several “top teams” emerge in his recruitment.

Oregon and USC have positioned themselves as primary contenders, while UCLA, Oklahoma and San Diego State also remain in the frame. Oregon is still among the top teams but the recruiting landscape is evolving rapidly as other programs intensify their efforts.

Raised in Southern California, Fa'alave‑Johnson has versatility and positional flexibility. He could play safety or running back in college, and even projects capable of covering up to four different positions. 247Sports lists Miami among the schools he is "high on," along with PSU, Oklahoma, USC and Texas.

A consensus Top‑300 recruit in the 2027 cycle per On3 rankings, Fa'alave‑Johnson brings a lot of potential to the table. With unofficial visits already made to Oregon, USC, UCLA and Oklahoma earlier this year, Fa'alave‑Johnson’s remaining campus visits — which could include Miami — will be important in his decision making process. Although he has said a decision remains further in the future.

2026 Class Update

The secondary, or more specifically the corner position for the Hurricanes, has been recruited well in the Class of 2026. The Hurricanes currently hold four cornerback commits in the 2026 class with Jontavius Wyman, Brody Jennings, Jaelen Waters and Camdin Portis already committed. That is also with Kenton Dopson potentially reclassifying.

Consensus 5-star running back Derrek Cooper, who was one of the highest-priority prospects for Miami in the 2026 class, committed to Texas recently. But, the running back room appears to be set already. Miami has held a commitment from 2026 four-star RB Javion Mallory since March, RB Girard Pringle Jr. signed with Miami in the 2025 class and the Hurricanes added North Dakota State RB ChaMar Brown as a transfer with two years of eligibility left.