Height: 6-2

Weight: 197 pounds

Year: RS Sophomore

Pro Comparison: Reggie Nelson

Pros for Tae Johnson

• Johnson possesses an outstanding blend of length and range at the safety position
• His wide receiver background shows up with Johnson’s ability to find the football and create turnovers
• As his body continues to develop, Johnson profiles as an above-average player in the run game
• He possesses a unique coverage skill set to be able to play both man and zone coverage

Cons for Tae Johnson

• Johnson’s angles of pursuit can be hit or miss in the run game, which can cause him to get out of position
• He needs to continue to fill out his frame, lacking bulk in his upper and lower body
• There are moments where Johnson can get caught peeking in the backfield, and he will need to be a bit more consistent with his coverage responsibilities

Background

Johnson was considered a four-star player by each of the major recruiting platforms coming out of Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side in the 2024 class. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Johnson ended up rated as the No. 198 overall player, the No. 15 safety, and the No. 5 player from the state of Indiana for the class. He opted for Notre Dame over offers from Tennessee, Penn State, Auburn, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Washington, Colorado, Louisville, Iowa State, Illinois, Michigan State, Kansas, Purdue, and Cincinnati, among others.

After redshirting as a freshman in 2024, Johnson became a playmaker for the Fighting Irish last season. In the 10 games that he played, Johnson ended up with 48 total tackles, four interceptions, and seven passes defended. Johnson also returned an interception for a touchdown, while also combining for a half tackle for loss. That campaign managed to earn Johnson a place on the FWAA Freshman All-American Team.

Player Evaluation

After beginning the season as a backup to Jalen Stroman, Johnson took over as the starter for Notre Dame next to Adon Shuler, and he thrived in his role. As a former wide receiver, those ball skills and instincts flash in pass coverage for Johnson. He routinely finds the football in the air and shows the ability to finish plays. For a defensive back, Johnson has some very strong hands. He is an overall outstanding blend of length and range at the safety position. As Johnson’s body and frame continue to develop, Johnson profiles as an above-average player in the run game. There is a unique overall coverage skill set, possessing upside in both man and zone coverage.

In the run game, Johnson has some inconsistent angles of pursuit, which can cause him to get out of position. Johnson is a bit high cut, so he will need to continue adding some good weight to his frame. As things currently stand, there is an overall lack of bulk in his upper and lower body right now. There are moments where Johnson can get caught peeking in the backfield, which is understandable for a safety who lacks a significant level of playing time. Johnson will need to be more consistent with his coverage responsibilities and maintain discipline.

If Johnson takes the step physically, he has high upside to develop into a plus starting safety on the next level. His combination of length, coverage ability, and upside is breathtaking to watch.