UCLA’s secondary was the brightest spot in a rough season, and the Bruins are betting that transfer safety Tao Johnson can keep that unit rolling in 2026.
Johnson slides into a group that already includes safety Cole Martin and corners DJ Barksdale, Scooter Jackson, Rodrick Pleasant, and Dante Lovett. That’s a lot of pieces in the back end, but Johnson stands out because he brings proven production and a track record of doing a little bit of everything before settling in on defense.
His path started at Thunder Ridge High School in Idaho, where he was much more than a safety. Johnson played quarterback and defensive back for the Titans, and he earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a senior in 2021.
He also made his mark in track, winning the Idaho 5A state title in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.82. He added bronze medals at the 5A state championships in the 4x100 relay and long jump.
Thunder Ridge never had a winning season during his time there, according to MaxPreps, but Johnson still drew attention as a player who could handle multiple roles. Recruiting services saw that too. He was a 3-star prospect in the class of 2022, ranked 792nd nationally by 247Sports, along with being the 54th-ranked athlete and the No. 2 player in Idaho.
His first wave of offers came from FCS programs such as Montana State, Weber State, and Eastern Washington. Then the bigger schools jumped in late, with Utah, Virginia, and Washington State all extending offers during the back half of his senior year. Johnson chose Utah, a program known for developing defensive backs under Kyle Whittingham.
That decision put him in a pipeline that has produced NFL talent like cornerback Jaylon Johnson, linebacker Devin Lloyd, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and, most recently, offensive tackle Spencer Fano, who was picked ninth overall by the Cleveland Browns.
Johnson’s early days at Utah were a little messy. As a freshman, he appeared in just five games and split time between wide receiver and special teams as a return man. He did get a redshirt year, and that ended up being important for his growth.
Once he settled into the secondary, the production followed. In his first season at nickel cornerback, Johnson played all 13 games and finished with 33 tackles, including 16 solo stops. He added 1.5 tackles for loss and five pass deflections, showing he could help against both the run and the pass.
Some of his best work that year came against Arizona and Baylor. Against the 17th-ranked Wildcats, he posted a season-high five tackles. Against the Bears, he recorded a season-high two pass breakups.
The next year, Johnson moved to safety and took on a bigger leadership role for the Utes. His tackling jumped to another level: 70 total tackles, 41 solo, plus four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and the first interception of his career.
He also turned in strong performances against Arizona and Baylor again. Against the Wildcats, he had a season-high nine tackles, six of them solo, and picked off his first pass. Against the Bears, he finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a 77-yard touchdown return on a blocked field goal.
Johnson’s redshirt junior season wasn’t as statistically loud, but it still looked a lot like the version Utah had come to trust. He wrapped up the year with 51 total tackles, 27 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.
He had been planning to return to Utah for one final season, but head coach Whittingham left for Michigan. Johnson then entered the transfer portal and headed to UCLA.
He isn’t being billed as one of the top safeties in college football or a likely day-one or day-two draft pick. But he has a reputation for production, and he tends to show up against tougher competition. That matters for a Bruins defense that needs steady play on the back end.
Paired with Cole Martin, Johnson gives UCLA a safety tandem built on tackling and pass defense. It’s not a flashy duo, but it has the look of one that can handle business. And for a team leaning on its secondary as a strength, that kind of reliability goes a long way.
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