Elite Oklahoma RB commit Taylor Tatum attends Sooners opener

Longview (Texas) four-star running back Taylor Tatum was on the road Saturday to visit Brent Venables and the Sooners at Oklahoma’s season opener against Arkansas State.

Tatum posted a photo with the Sooners head coach on social media and Oklahoma went on to defeat Arkansas State 73-0.

The 5-foot-10.5, 200-pound Tatum is the nation’s No. 36 overall prospect and No. 1 running back in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 9 player in Texas.

Game Day 🏈 #BoomerSooner #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/i51Z6Qnc7r

— Taylor Tatum (@taylortatum06) September 2, 2023

Baseball, relationship with DeMarco Murray were key

Tatum committed to Oklahoma in late July, citing his strong relationship with Sooners running backs coach DeMarco Murray.

“They’ve always been a top school in the back of my head because of my relationship with coach Murray,” Tatum told On3. “Getting back for the official visit really set it off for me.”

“Being around Coach Murray and his family, hearing Coach Venables’ plans for the future, about getting to the SEC and how that’s gonna change the college football world,” he continued. “Knowing they have the same morals and same goals as me, that Coach Murray talks to my dad a lot, my mom a lot, and I’ve connected with Oklahoma in ways I haven’t with other schools.”

Also important to Tatum is the opportunity to play baseball at the collegiate level. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school and hopes to continue that in Norman.

“More than football going to the SEC, competing in SEC baseball really set them over the top,” he said. “Being a two-sport athlete — a competitive one at that — I made sure to go somewhere where I had the opportunity to play baseball and compete in football. Being the top running back in the nation, I’m blessed to have the ability to thrive in two sports.”

“Going there and playing two sports is a big reason for me.”

Tatum part of top-15 Sooners class

Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class currently ranks No. 14 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. A big boost came last week with the addition of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Five-Star Plus+ defensive lineman David Stone. Stone is the highest-rated player in the group.

Tatum is one of four top-100 recruits pledged to the Sooners. He and Stone are joined by Missouri City (Texas) Hightower four-star receiver Zion Kearney and Los Alamitos (Calif.) four-star tight end Davon Mitchell.