Tao Johnson
UCLA#215 overallDraft Movement
Down 72 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Tao Johnson is a converted-receiver free safety with rare range and ball skills who transferred from Utah to UCLA for 2026. Born March 2003, the 6'1", 193-pound Idaho Falls native arrived in Salt Lake City as a three-star wideout and former high school quarterback with track speed, having won an Idaho 5A 100-meter title at 10.82, before Utah's staff flipped him to defense. After playing nickel as a starter in 2023, he slid to free safety in 2024 once Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki left for the NFL and broke out, posting 70 tackles, an interception against Arizona, and a 77-yard blocked-field-goal return for a touchdown against Baylor, grading among the Big 12's elite safeties. He grades as a mid-round defensive back, and his career marks include 154 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 13 pass breakups with a strong career coverage grade. Scouts love the closing speed from the deep middle, receiver-honed tracking, and disguise ability that baits quarterbacks, plus standout special-teams value. The concerns are an undersized frame that gets swallowed by power backs, tackling that breaks down in space, and only two full seasons on defense. Most boards land him in the Day 2 to early Day 3 range as a single-high free safety or big nickel.
Strengths
- Born March 2003
- freakish range and closing speed to erase mistakes deep, listed at 4.44
- Receiver background gives natural ball-hawk tracking and route anticipation
- 154 career tackles, 3 INTs and 13 pass breakups with a strong career coverage grade
- graded among the Big 12's elite safeties in 2024
- Violent striker near the line who plays bigger than 193 pounds
- Disguises coverage and baits quarterbacks with false pre-snap looks
- Smooth backpedal-to-drive transition breaking on underneath routes
Weaknesses
- Undersized 193-pound frame gets swallowed by bigger backs and tight ends in run support
- Tackling technique breaks down in space, aims high and misses wrap-ups
- Leaves interceptions on the field, does not finish at the catch point consistently
- Aggressive gambler who bites on play-action and vacates deep responsibility
- Only two full seasons on defense raises pattern-recognition questions
- Likely needs to add weight or move to big nickel to stick
NFL Comparison
Jevon Holland-style converted receiver-athlete with deep range and slot flex; Julian Blackmon Utah free safety with ball skills and closing speed; Budda Baker undersized but fearless single-high striker
College Stats
2022 Utah: WR/special teams, 5 G. 2023 (nickel): 33 tkl, 5 PBU, 12 starts. 2024 (FS): 70 tkl, 1 INT, 5 PD, 77-yd blocked-FG TD, 82.5 PFF. Career: 154 tkl, 3 INT, 13 PBU; 75.2 PFF coverage.
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $932K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and UCLA's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Portal: transferred from Utah to UCLA for 2026.
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Measurables
Awards & Honors
2024 CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12; grades as a mid-round safety with a Day 3 projection; considered a 2026 safety riser; sits inside the top-72 on draft boards; Idaho 5A 100m state champion (10.82)