Tao Johnson Season 2026

Career Summary
Transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2026 campaign after spending his first four collegiate seasons at Utah (2022-25) … played 43 games at Utah, starting 23 at safety and 12 at nickel … totaled 154 tackles (84-70-154), six tackles for loss (TFL), three interceptions, 16 pass breakups (PBU), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
 
2025 (Utah)
Entered all 13 of the Utes’ games, starting 12 … totaled 51 tackles (2.5 TFL) and six passes defended (two interceptions, four passes defended) … notched a season-high nine tackles at Kansas on Nov. 28 … posted six tackles and a pick against Texas Tech on Sept. 20.
 
2024 (Utah)
Played in all 12 of Utah’s games, starting 11 … led the secondary with 70 tackles … blocked a field goal against TCU on Oct. 19 … had a season-high nine tackles against Arizona on Sept. 28 … had at least five tackles in 10 games.
 
2023 (Utah)
Switched to defensive back before his redshirt freshman campaign, going on to play 13 games (12 starts) primarily at nickel … had 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and five pass breakups … had a season-high five tackles against No. 17 Arizona on Nov. 18.
 
2022 (Utah)
Played in five games during his true freshman season as a wide receiver and on special teams. 
 
High School
Attended Thunder Ridge High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho … rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 2 recruit in Idaho by 247 Sports … earned second team all-conference honors in 2021 … was a quarterback in high school … won the Idaho 5A state championship in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.82 … also in track, was a bronze medalist at the 5A state championships in the 4x100 relay and long jump … also lettered in basketball.
 
Personal
Parents are Amy and Ike Johnson ... his father played college football ... aspires to become a college football head coach ... enjoys spending time with family in his free time ... admires LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan ... his family is his "why" ... earned his B.A. in communication at Utah ... working towards his Master's in project management at UCLA.