Spring Ball Preview: Utah Football’s Safety Room
Mar 19, 2025, 10:54 AM | Updated: 10:56 am
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah football’s spring ball officially starts tomorrow, so we wrap up our position group preview with Morgan Scalley’s free and strong safeties.
These next five weeks of spring camp will allow Kyle Whittingham’s staff to integrate all the newcomers into Utah football’s culture.
Utah has enjoyed fairly consistent play from the safety positions over the years. This unit has tremendous potential going into 2025, but important strides have to be made.
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Utah’s Safety Room
Departures: Alaka’i Gilmon
Returners: Tao Johnson, Rabbit Evans, Nate Ritchie, Jailani Davis
Promising Youth: Nathan Tilmon
The safety position offers one of the most intriguing storylines of spring camp. Tao Johnson’s immense potential and uncertainty at strong safety and a group of developing young players create promise and concern for the unit. Establishing stability within the group will be a primary focus for Utah’s defense this spring.
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Year two for Tao Johnson at free safety
Tao Johnson enters his second season at free safety with the opportunity to establish himself as a cornerstone of Utah’s defense. After showing flashes of brilliance in 2024, Johnson has the potential to become one of the most impactful defenders on the roster.
Johnson possesses elite speed and impressive range. He can cover large portions of the field and consistently disrupt passing lanes. However, his instincts are still developing in the position.
This is where experience and reps will make all the difference for Johnson. As he moves into his second season at free safety, he should grow more comfortable in his responsibilities. If Johnson can improve his instincts or reactionary skills, allowing him to diagnose the action quicker, his playmaking potential will grow significantly.
Johnson played at a good level this past season, so any improvement should put him at the top of the conference. Utah’s defense needs playmakers to emerge, guys who are capable of anchoring the secondary. Spring practices will be essential for Johnson to continue sharpening his awareness and technique, particularly in recognizing offensive tendencies and improving his reactions in zone coverage.
Strong Safety Competition: Rabbit Evans, Nate Ritchie
While Johnson’s role at free safety appears secure, the strong safety position remains uncertain. Utah’s defensive success will heavily rely on either Evans or Ritchie stepping into a consistent starting role.
Evans brings strong physicality to the position and thrives as an enforcer near the line of scrimmage. His aggressive style suits Utah’s defensive mentality, but his consistency in pass coverage must improve to lock down the starting role. Becoming more consistent and eliminating mental errors is the key to his development into 2025.
Ritchie, meanwhile, offers a more balanced skill set with sound instincts and solid tackling fundamentals. After battling injuries in recent seasons, Ritchie must demonstrate durability and growth in coverage to establish himself as a reliable presence at strong safety. It seems like Ritchie has been on the cusp for the last couple of seasons, so a good spring ball this year will go a long way.
The competition with Evans and Ritchie will be one of the most significant competitions of spring camp, as their development will be crucial to Utah’s defensive balance.
What does Utah have in Jeilani Davis, Nathan Tilmon?
Beyond the projected starters, Utah’s young safeties provide intriguing upside. Both Davis and Tilmon arrive with athletic potential and the versatility to develop into key contributors.
Davis has shown impressive ball skills and range during his early reps, while Tilmon’s physicality and instincts give him the potential to excel in run support. While these players are still developing, spring camp offers them a valuable opportunity to earn rotational snaps or solidify themselves as capable reserves.
Building trust with the coaching staff and refining their understanding of Utah’s defensive system will be vital steps for Davis and Tilmon to earn meaningful roles this season.
Keys for Utah’s safety room
Utah’s safety room has the potential to be a strength of the defense, but some questions remain. Johnson’s development into a top-tier free safety is vital to that possibility, but Utah needs to have a good play from the strong safety spot. So long as Evans and Ritchie can solidify the position with good play, that will bode well for the group’s success.
Positive strides from Davis would provide essential depth and long-term security. While a strong first impression from Tilmon would really round out the depth of the room. With so much to evaluate, the safety room will be among spring practices’ most intriguing position groups.
When does Utah football’s spring ball begin?
The Utes will open spring camp on Thursday, March 20, and the 22 Forever Game will cap spring practices on Saturday, April 19.
Utah has already gotten back to work in its offseason regimen. Whittingham and his staff will lead players through 15 practices over five weeks. Utah will split its time between the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center and Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Utah’s annual spring game on April 19 in Rice-Eccles Stadium will once again benefit the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship, which honors the memories of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
Each season, the scholarship is represented by a student-athlete in the football program who exemplifies the inspiring qualities that Ty and Aaron demonstrated. Tickets are available for purchase, and all proceeds go to the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship.
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