USC flexed its recruiting chops when it brought in the top-ranked 2026 recruiting class in the nation, and many of those players are now freshmen getting significant playing time.
The Trojans are following up with a 2027 class that’s half the size of the previous class but still loaded with talent. It’s ranked 16th in the nation and more than half of the players are from California.
High school football season is underway across the country, and here’s how USC’s next round of new talent is performing.
Mekai Brown, EDGE (Greenwich Country Day, Conn.)
Brown had 29 offers as the sixth-ranked edge in the country, and the five-star recruit narrowed his choices down to Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Ohio State and USC before ultimately choosing the Trojans on April 17. He’s a 6-foot-6 dual-sport athlete who also plays basketball and helped Greenwich Country Day to a 42-7 victory over Blair Academy on Sept. 19. Individual stats were not available.
Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, ATH (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
USC’s second five-star recruit of the 2027 class is the second-ranked athlete in the nation. He was recruited by defensive coordinator Gary Patterson and tight ends/inside receivers coach Chad Savage. Fa’alave-Johnson could play on either side of the ball in college, according to analysts, based on his technique and instincts. He’s averaging 6.5 tackles per game through four games with Cathedral Catholic this season for 26 total tackles and three tackles for loss. The senior leads the Dons with 132 rushing yards on 21 carries and has scored three touchdowns.
Danny Lang, CB (Mater Dei)
Lang will be the seventh Mater Dei product on the Trojans’ roster and is the third-ranked cornerback in the nation. The four-star recruit has played all over the Monarchs’ secondary and has recorded seven tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery through four games. Lang is also a valuable special teams player and averaged a team-high 70.5 yards on two kick returns. He had a 100-yard kick return in Mater Dei’s game against Orem (Utah). The Monarchs are coming off a 25-8 loss to Bishop Gorman (Nevada), a game in which Lang sat out due to a knee injury.
Quentin Hale, WR (Corona Centennial)
Hale is a 6-3, 192-pound receiver who committed to USC in February and is playing his senior season at Corona Centennial after previously playing for Los Angeles Cathedral. The four-star recruit chose USC over LSU, Oklahoma and Texas. Hale averages nearly 100 receiving yards per game and has caught 22 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns through four games.
Drew Fielder, OT (Servite)
USC flipped Fielder, a left tackle, from Oregon in late March. The four-star recruit landed a spot on the OC Register’s list of top linemen to watch prior to this season and his blocking has helped the Friars roll up 1,019 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in four games this season.
Aaryn Washington, CB (IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.)
Washington transferred out of Mater Dei to finish his high school playing career at IMG, and analysts project the four-star recruit could play nickelback in college. He played in only two games as a junior due to injury and has recorded four tackles and a pass breakup in three games as a senior.
Gavin Williams, S (Damien)
Williams is a two-way player who had 63 tackles and eight pass breakups during his junior season. The four-star recruit is on track to surpass those stats this season and has 20 tackles and two tackles for loss in four games in addition to one sack, one pass breakup and a blocked field goal.
Roye Oliver III, WR (Hamilton, Ariz.)
A dual-sport star in football and track and field, Oliver is a top-three receiver in the state of Arizona. The four-star recruit excels in the slot and caught 92 passes for 1,839 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior, and he’s seen limited playing time in his senior season, participating in just two games.
Alifeleti Tuihalamaka, DL (Oaks Christian)
Tuihalamaka is the younger brother of Notre Dame linebacker Junior Tuihalamaka and is building on a breakout sophomore season. The four-star recruit is the second-leading tackler at Oaks Christian with 47 tackles and leads the team in tackles for loss with 12. He also has two sacks, five QB hurries and a blocked field goal.
Javon Vital, ATH (Lake Charles College Prep, La.)
Football, basketball, baseball and track and field are all on Vital’s athletic résumé, making him one of the most versatile recruits in the country. Individual stats were not available, but the three-star recruit’s team is off to a 3-0 start and has scored at least 45 points in each game.
Jace Cannon, TE (Junipero Serra, San Mateo)
The Trojans stayed in-state when adding to their tight end room in this recruiting cycle. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, the three-star recruit is the Padres’ leading receiver after hauling in eight passes for 111 yards in two games.
Josiah Poyer, LB (St. John Bosco)
Linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler recruited this 6-1, 225-pound linebacker. The three-star recruit has seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in two games.
Isaia Vandermade, DL (Santa Margarita)
The three-star recruit is the son of Lenny Vandermade, who was an offensive lineman at USC from 2000-2003 before a brief NFL career. Santa Margarita is 4-0 start, and the Eagles are averaging 169.6 passing yards and 143.4 rushing yards per game.
Dylan Wafle, LB (Avon Old Farms, Conn.)
The three-star recruit’s older brother, Luke, is a freshman edge for the Trojans this season. Avon Old Farms, which is one of Connecticut’s top football programs, routed Kent School 48-7 in its season opener.