No. 1 RB Taylor Tatum names Top 2, sets commitment date

Elite 2024 running back Taylor Tatum of Longview (TX) High narrowed his list to 2 schools Monday evening.

The 5-foot-10, 205 pounder is down to Oklahoma and USC, and will announce his college decision on July 21st.

Tatum discusses finalists

USC Trojans: I really enjoyed Cali and coach Riley’s offense is hard to deny. Coach Riley also had a plan for me as soon as I get on campus and I think I can be the next Reggie (Bush).

Oklahoma Sooners: It feels just like home and I fit right into coach Lebby’s offense. Coach Murray knows all the ins and outs of every level of football and it’s hard to deny getting coached by someone who has been in your exact shoes.”

Tatum ranks as the No. 35 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 1 running back and the No. 9 player in the state of Louisiana.

Taylor Tatum Scouting Summary

“Downhill, one-cut back with burst and three-down ability. Has a good build for the position, checking in at over 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete, running an electronically-timed 4.53 second 40 yard dash and 4.25 second shuttle. Area champion in the 200 meters as a junior, with a personal best of 21.70 seconds. Plays in an offense that is often under center, lining up in a deep backfield. Turned in a productive junior season against good competition in Texas, rushing for 1,840 yards, 33 touchdowns at 8.9 yards per carry. Shows a notable initial burst, exploding to the second level. Excels in running outside concepts.”

“A natural long-strider with a light-footed, bouncy gait. Runs through contact at the second level. Lowers his shoulder on contact and keeps his legs moving. Has some subtle moves to sidestep defenders. A good receiver in both camp settings and in limited opportunities on Friday nights. Attacks the ball and makes grabs with his arms extended. Looks natural in running routes out of the backfield. At his best when he can get a runway due to his longer stride. Can improve lateral agility, but made some strides in that area as a junior. Also can continue shoring up his ball security. Younger for the class with a late April birthday.”

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $184K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.