Player Profile: Marcus Tatum
Marcus Tatum is a punishing, outside offensive lineman that will compete for playing time as a freshman for Tennessee.
Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. Courtesy of creative commons.org.
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Biography
Marcus Tatum is an offensive lineman from Daytona Beach, Florida and is currently attending Mainland High School.
Rankings
247Sports: No. 42 OT, No. 61 player in Florida in the class of 2016
Rivals: No. 45 OG for the class of 2016
ESPN: No. 33 OT, No. 204 in ESPN Southeast class of 2016
Offers
Tatum committed to the Vols on Jan. 11. He had offers from most of the nation’s top programs, including Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and Stanford, among others.
Film Review
Tatum is listed at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds. He has the ability to play guard and tackle, though his lengthy frame suggests he will end up as an outside blocker. Tatum is a natural run blocker with an obvious mean streak. He plays to the whistle and has little regard for the opposing defender he is punishing. Tatum stays a bit too high while pass blocking, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. His long reach allows him to beat most defensive ends, even with an unpolished form. Make no mistake, run blocking is his strength, which should pay off in Tennessee’s run-first offense.
The Vols have availability on the offensive line. Veteran Dylan Wiesman will anchor the line and seasoned players Coleman Thomas and Jashon Robertson will be starters. But after that, the door is wide open for talented, young linemen. Tatum could be a surprise contender to Chance Hall or Jack Jones for playing time.
Edited by Nathan Odom
Sports Editor, Cody McClure, has been with TNJN since January 2014. He is passionate about SEC football and basketball. To him, there's nothing better in life than game day in Neyland Stadium. Cody covers the SEC for Athlon Sports. Additionally, he co-hosts Rock Solid Sports for WUTK 90.3 FM on Fridays from 7-8 p.m. ET. Cody is also interning at Sports Radio WNML working under Jimmy Hyams. In his spare time, he plays golf, travels the country, and plays guitar, badly. Follow him on Twitter @CodyMcClureCFB.
