Tae Johnson
Notre Dame#25 overallDraft Movement
Up 3 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Tae Johnson is a redshirt sophomore safety at Notre Dame and one of the most popular early names in the 2027 draft class. He arrived from Fort Wayne North Side in Indiana as a consensus four-star recruit and a two-sport star, catching 139 passes for 2,286 yards and 41 touchdowns at receiver while scoring over 1,100 points on the basketball court. A broken fifth metatarsal ended his 2024 freshman season after three games, and he used the recovery to convert from cornerback to safety full-time, learning the position behind All-American Xavier Watts. He won the starting job by the second game of 2025 and broke out immediately. In 10 games he posted 48 tackles, fourth on the team, led the defense with four interceptions for 73 return yards, and added seven passes defended, including a 49-yard pick-six at Pittsburgh. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Texas A&M and earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors plus a Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week nod. At 6'2" he is an outstanding blend of length and range, a natural centerfielder who carries the deep middle with real timed speed. His receiver background shows up everywhere: he reads route concepts from depth, finds the ball in the air, and finishes at the catch point with unusually strong hands for a defensive back. The basketball profile translates to rare vertical adjustments and high-point wins in traffic. He is also a sure tackler, charged with only two misses all season, the cleanest finish in his position group. He is versatile, lining up at free safety, in the box, and over the slot, with the skill set to hold up in both man and zone. The concerns are frame and polish, not traits. He is high-cut and light in the upper and lower body, and he must add lean bulk to win interior run fits against NFL-caliber blockers. His pursuit angles run hot and cold, and he gets caught peeking in the backfield. Man reps against NFL-sized tight ends are still developing, and injuries have limited him to 13
The Tape
Strengths
- Outstanding blend of length and range at safety
- Former receiver background produces elite ball skills and takeaways (4 INTs in 2025)
- Wins at the catch point with strong hands and basketball high-point ability
- Sure tackler, charged with only two misses in 2025
- Reads route concepts from depth and drives on the throw
- Timed speed to carry the deep middle and close on throws
- Versatile alignment resume at free safety, in the box, and over the slot
- Coverage skill set to play both man and zone
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent pursuit angles in the run game that pull him out of position
- Lacks bulk in his upper and lower body with a high-cut frame that needs good weight
- Gets caught peeking in the backfield and must sharpen coverage discipline
- Functional play strength vs high-mass blockers in interior run fits needs development
- Man coverage reps against NFL-caliber tight ends are still developing
- Only 13 career games of experience
- Injury history includes a broken fifth metatarsal (2024) and a hand injury that ended his 2025 season early
NFL Comparison
Reggie Nelson (pro comparison); Xavier Watts (converted-receiver Notre Dame ballhawk he studied under)
College Stats
2024 (Notre Dame): 3 games, 3 tackles, season cut short by foot injury; 2025 (Notre Dame): 10 games, 8 starts, 48 tackles (35 solo), 4 INT for 73 yards and 1 TD, 7 passes defended
Measurables
Awards & Honors
FWAA Freshman All-American (2025); Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week (2025)