Prior to the beginning of last season, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley was effusive in his praise for Tao Johnson, the nickleback turned free safety.
Free safety is Johnson’s natural position, but two NFL players at the safety spot in Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki meant that Utah had to stash him at nickel for the 2023 season.
Johnson was effective in the nickel role, totaling 33 tackles and five pass breakups, but when Bishop and Vaki went to the next level, coaches were quick to move Johnson into the free safety spot, where he played 145 snaps in 2023.
“Speed. He’s got really good speed over the top. He’s got great ball skills,” Scalley said in the spring of 2023. “… Cole and Sione were very good, very good safeties, could play on the back end, but Tao just with his ability to cover ground is really pleasant to see back there.”
Did Johnson’s first year at free safety live up to his defensive coordinator’s high expectations?
According to Pro Football Focus, with a grade of 82.5, Johnson was Utah’s second-highest-rated player on defense in 2024, just behind cornerback Cam Calhoun, who transferred to Alabama this offseason.
Johnson had 70 tackles (two for loss), an interception, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. He was also one of Utah’s most effective players in coverage, allowing just nine receptions on 16 times targeted.
He also blocked a field goal against TCU and returned a blocked field goal against Baylor for a touchdown.
That moment against Baylor was the high-water mark of Utah’s season. With Utah leading 17-0 late in the second quarter, the Utes blocked the Bears’ field goal attempt, with Johnson catching the ball that went careening into the sky and returning it 77 yards for a touchdown, high-fiving Zemaiah Vaughn along the way. Just a few drives later, however,…
Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/08/10/tao-johnson-utah-utes-safety-fall-camp/
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Publish date : 2025-08-10 23:32:00
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