Based on their Way-Too-Early Top 25 teams ahead of the 2024 season, ESPN went ahead and named one breakout player to watch from each top 25 team in their previous rankings.
Utah landed at #10 in the top 25 rankings, coming in as the highest-ranked Big 12 team on the list, with Arizona following just behind at #11.
With the departure of key players Sione Vaki and Cole Bishop, big holes were left to fill going into the 2024 season but the player ESPN touts as breakout-bound for the Utes in 2024 is Tao Johnson, a now sophomore defensive back who had a solid freshman season in the nickel slot.
Paolo Uggetti said, "Johnson arrived in Utah as a wide receiver, a position where he got limited time as a freshman in 2022, before making the transition to defense. Last year, Johnson finished with 33 total tackles and five pass deflections and showed the ability to become one of the Utes' key players on defense in 2024."
In the 2023 season, the 6'1" 192-pound Idaho Falls native racked up 33 total tackles (almost half of them solo with 16), and 5 passes defended.
If Johnson can continue excelling with his development at the cornerback position, there is no doubt that his impact in 2024 will make him breakout-worthy and potentially even the next big NFL defensive back to come out of Utah.
More must-reads: