SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Freshman safety Tae Johnson earned selection to the 2025 FWAA Freshman All-America Team after a breakout season for the Irish.
The FWAA began its Freshman All-America team in 2001. Sam Young (OL, 2006), Ian Williams (DL, 2007), Aaron Lynch (DL, 2011), KeiVarae Russell (DB, 2012), Nyles Morgan (LB, 2014), Justin Yoon (K, 2015), Kyle Hamilton (DB, 2019), Kyren Williams (RB, 2020), Joe Alt (OL, 2021), Benjamin Morrison (CB, 2022) and Leonard Moore (CB, 2024) are the previous players to earn the honor while playing for the Irish.
Johnson, who played in 10 games with eight starts this season, posted four interceptions (including a pick-six), three pass breakups, 48 tackles and 0.5 TFL. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
In the win at Boston College, Johnson snagged two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter, to seal the win. Two weeks later at Pittsburgh, Johnson notched his first-career pick-six, returning an interception 49 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana native was named the Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week and the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week on November 18th following his dominant performance in the win over Pittsburgh. To go along with the pick-six, Johnson added five tackles and his first-career half tackle for loss against the Panthers.
Johnson returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the home opener against Texas A&M. He then made his first career start against Purdue, and started the next seven games of the season at safety. In a three week stretch in October, he recorded his first career interception against Boise State, then followed it up with a team-high seven tackles in the 36-7 win over NC State. A week later against USC, Johnson set a career-high with eight tackles. He was named to the 2025 The Athletic Midseason All-Freshman Team in mid-October.
With Johnson’s help at the end of the regular season, Notre Dame led the nation in interceptions (tied – 21 total INTs), ranked fourth in turnover margin (1.08), ninth in team sacks (2.92), 11th in rushing defense (99.3), 13th in scoring defense (17.6) and 13th in team passing efficiency defense (108.8).