Tatum will start at strong safety for the Wildcats in 2007.
2006 (Junior): In his first season as a Wildcat after transferring from the University of Texas, Tatum started in 10 games (missing only the Nov. 4 game at Texas A&M-Kingsville because of an injury). Tatum finished the season with40 tackles (22 solo), two pass breakups and one blocked kick. He was all over the field in the Wildcats' season-opening victory over Central Oklahoma, finishing with 10 tackles (four solo).
2006 (ACU Track and Field): Had a solid year on the track for the Wildcats after his transfer from Texas. During the outdoor season he earned all-America honors as part of both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Tatum ran the lead leg on ACU's national championship 4x100 relay team, which ran a 39.79. He ran a 46.4-second anchor split on the second-place 4x400 relay team, which finished in 3:08.88. The Wildcats won the men's outdoor team national championship, giving Tatum an NCAA Division I football national championship and an NCAA Division II track and field national championship in the same school year.
2004-05 (Texas): A talented young safety who graduated high school early, enrolled at UT in January 2004 and played in nine games primarily on special teams as a true freshman in 2004. As a sophomore on the Longhorns' 2005 national championship team, Tatum played in eight games and posted four tackles. He had two tackles and one pass breakup vs. Rice, and one tackle each against Missouri and Oklahoma State. As a true freshman in 2004, Tatum posted six tackles and a punt block recovery for a Texas team that beat Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl. He had one tackle against No. 19 Oklahoma State and at Kansas, two tackles against No. 22 Texas A&M and returned a punt block for a TD to tie the game 13-13 in the third quarter. He also had two tackles versus No. 13 Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
High school: A three-year letterwinner in high school and two-time first team all-district pick at safety. He played cornerback, running back, free safety and returned kicks, spending his last season at Dunbar HS after playing at North Crowley HS as a sophomore and junior. He was named first-team all-District 7-4A and earned second-team all-Dallas-Fort Worth area as a senior. Tatum played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season. As a senior he tallied 75 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries that season. As a running back he rushed for 526 yards and four TDs on 62 carries (8.5 yards per carry) in 2003. Tatum tied the state record when he dashed 99 yards for a TD against Waxahachie that year. He also had an 89-yard kickoff return in 2003. Tatum posted 249 yards rushing and three TDs versus Arlington Bowie as a senior. As a junior at North Crowley, he was an honorable mention Class 4A all-state pick and a first-team all-District 8-4A selection. He posted 50 tackles, 10 TFLs, five sacks, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five blocked kicks in 2002. He also rushed for 1,281 yards and 18 TDs on 126 carries (10.2 ypc) that year. Tatum also started in the secondary at North Crowley as a sophomore in 2001 and competed in track & field from his freshman to his junior year. He finished third in the 400 meters at the Texas 4A state meet as a sophomore. As a senior in high school, he was ranked by Rivals.com as the seventh-best safety in the nation and the 17th-best player in the state. He has been clocked at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.
Personal: His great uncle is former Oakland Raiders' Pro Bowl safety Jack Tatum, who starred at Ohio State from 1968-70. Born 17 June 1985. 2003 graduate of Fort Worth Dunbar High School.
