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, quarterback Cam Rising was injured, altering the course of Utah’s season.
While it was a good year for Johnson, that’s not to say he was perfect. Scalley is always pushing each player to improve and get better, including some of his best. One area where Utah was deficient last season on defense was taking the ball away, which has become priority No. 1 during practices this offseason.
“It’s just a matter of making the plays. There’s a couple of times last year where Tao’s got the ball right there, can make a play, didn’t make the play, and so it’s just a matter of making the play. He’s got the athleticism, he’s got the ability. We just got to be able to make the play,” Scalley said.
Johnson’s blazing speed and ball skills popped at the free safety position a season ago, but turning the page to the 2025 campaign, he feels a lot more comfortable and confident compared to 2024.
“It’s crazy. I feel a crazy level up and just the speed of the game and just being able to recognize pre-snap things and moving around the field a lot faster and more confident, for sure,” Johnson said.
The Idaho native will be joined on the field by Rabbit Evans, who took control of the starting strong safety position at the end of last season. Evans was one of Utah’s highest-rated players on defense in 2024, totaling 34 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass deflection while being good in coverage.
The duo is poised to have a strong season, and Johnson has seen Evans improve in every aspect of his game, especially in terms of learning Scalley’s defense and improving his football IQ.
“(Rabbit’s) my dog, literally, that’s my dog. We spent so much time on and off the field together, just trying to get better, trying to be the best safety duo in the nation,” Johnson said.
One thing that’s helping Johnson improve ahead of the 2025 season is facing an offense led by new quarterback Devon Dampier that’s challenging the defense.
“He’s doing a great job commanding the offense, and practices have been so competitive this year. It’s back and forth. It’s a happy, sad feeling, losing some battles,” Johnson said.
Johnson describes new offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s scheme as one that’s “really creative.”
“We’ve seen a lot of good looks and even they trip us up sometimes. They’re really creative. They give us different looks and they got athletes. Good quarterback at the helm. They got probably the best athlete touching the ball every play, and so it’s good,” Johnson said.
The improved level of offense play from last season, at least in practice, is vital to improving the defense as it gears up for the season. Johnson gave a shoutout to freshman tight end JJ Buchanan, who’s been difficult to guard.
“He did make some plays on me, so I got to respect it,” Johnson said. “I’m going to get (him) back.”