No. 1 running back Taylor Tatum commits to Sooners
The No. 1 running back is coming to Oklahoma. Have yourself a celebration, OU running backs coach DeMarco Murray and OU fans.
Longview (Texas) High running back Taylor Tatum announced his commitment to the Sooners on Friday morning.
It’s great for OU for so many reasons, but you can’t forget this one. It was down to OU and USC in the end. No matter how you slice it, OU fans are going to see this as a massive recruiting victory against former head coach Lincoln Riley.
Tatum has been a priority for OU and Brent Venables and Murray for a long time. It all started when Tatum visited OU in June 2022 and camped in Norman. It just took one session for Tatum to earn the offer.
Then Tatum became the big national name he is. Against some of the best in Texas, Tatum rushed for 1,850 yards and 33 touchdowns. He averaged 141 yards per game and added three receiving touchdowns.
“He can do a little bit of everything,” Longview coach John King said. “Not only does he run the ball, but he’ll block. He can catch it. He can play in the slot. He’s a good kid and comes from a great family. He plays football, baseball and track. He’s exceptional. He could get drafted in baseball as an outfielder.”
That last point is absolutely true. A legitimate two-sport standout. And it’s something OU fully embraced on the recruiting trail.
When Tatum took his official visit to Norman, he spent a lot of time with Skip Johnson and the baseball program.
There were a lot of twists and turns in the recruitment, but Murray never went away. Teams came and go, leaving just the Sooners and Trojans.
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USC appeared to be, perhaps, taking the edge in May, but OU was ready for one last run in June that ultimately proved to be the difference.
Tatum is a consensus top-50 prospect in the nation. Every recruiting service has him ranked as a top-3 running back. He is No. 35 overall in the industry composite, which is good enough to be labeled as the top back in the country.
He punctuates a massive offensive week for OU recruiting. The Sooners have bolstered this class in a hurry with four-star receiver Zion Ragins (Tuesday) and now Tatum. Two legitimate recruiting victories that are resonating across the board.
Tatum is the second top-tier running back to join the 2024 class. Midwest City (Okla.) Carl Albert’s Xavier Robinson picked OU last month.
The Sooners will attempt to go 3-for-3 when Duncanville (Texas) High’s Caden Durham announces Aug. 25.
Murray is showing when he wants an elite back that there are few coaches who can compete with him. Tatum was an absolute battle and absolutely worth it for the Sooners.
