My thoughts on Tatum; DePriest to announce
Right: Jack Tatum (far right) was the honorary captain at last year’s USC game.
(Photo courtesy of The Lantern)
Yesterday, Buckeye Nation lost one of its greats when it was reported that former Ohio State defensive back Jack Tatum died of a heart attack at the age of 61.
Nicknamed “The Assassin,” Tatum was fiery competitor and was considered as one of the hardest hitters ever to play the game.
Tatum came to Columbus in 1967 from Passaic, New Jersey. He didn’t play football until his sophomore year at Passaic High, but eventually became a high school All-American during his senior season. In 1999, the Newark Star-Ledger named Tatum as one of New Jersey’s top ten defensive players of the century.
Since freshman were ineligible to play back in 1967, Tatum had to sit out with the rest of the players in his recruiting class that included quarterback Rex Kern, running back John Brockington, and middle guard Jim Stillwagon, among others.
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