Skip to main content
Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman: Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson to make first career start vs. Purdue

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble09/18/25jacksoble56
johnson
Notre Dame safety Tae Johnson. (Mike Miller, Blue & Gold)

With redshirt sophomore starter Adon Shuler out for the first half against Purdue (targeting), Notre Dame will elevate redshirt freshman safety Tae Johnson to the starting lineup in Week 4.

Freeman confirmed Thursday that Johnson will make what will likely be the first start of many in a blue-and-gold uniform, alongside redshirt senior Jalen Stroman. Junior Luke Talich will rotate heavily as well.

“In the first half, you’ll probably Tae-Tae go out first with Stro, and you’ll see Luke in there a lot, too,” Freeman said. “I’m confident all three of those guys had a really good week of practice. And then obviously Adon will come in the second half.”

Johnson made 6 tackles in 56 snaps against Texas A&M, heavily exceeding his career high in both categories. Most notably, he made a shoestring tackle on third down against redshirt sophomore Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, a notoriously elusive runner.

Johnson had some positive moments in coverage, too. He nearly intercepted Reed as a single-high safety in the third quarter, and he probably would have if Reed hadn’t overthrown the ball. Johnson also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Irish a 7-0 lead.

Freeman was pleased with Johnson’s performance, adding that his workload would continue to increase whether Shuler was out for a half or not.

“I thought Tae-Tae did a good job being out there,” Freeman said Monday. “He made some plays, some really good open field tackles. Made some plays on the ball. He’s a talented individual.

“He was going to get more no matter what, but especially with Adon being down a half, he’s going to have more on his plate and he’ll do just fine with it.”

At 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, Johnson likely could have played any position (safety, cornerback, wide receiver) he wanted to in college. He was also a standout basketball player at Fort Wayne (Ind.) North Side, and he could have done that at the next level, too.

Johnson is a freak athlete who impressed reporters, teammates and coaches with 2 interceptions on Day 1 of fall camp. His ceiling, the Irish believe, is nonexistent.

“It’s just great to see how fast Tae-Tae has grown, and he’s definitely gonna be a star,” Shuler said Tuesday.

Johnson will take the field with the first-team defense when Notre Dame hosts Purdue at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in South Bend. The game will be televised on NBC.