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Tatum to Texas

On3 imageby: Justin Wells04/26/17
Ron Tatum. (courtesy of Tatum)

Ron Tatum. (courtesy of Tatum)

PUTNAM CITY, OK — It’s happening.

Casey Thompson. Cameron Rising. Now, Ron Tatum.

Texas has its third steal from Oklahoma in two weeks with the addition of 2018 Putnam City (OKC) 4-star DE Tatum, and sends a message to their rivals north of the Red River; UT isn’t playing around in this recruiting game.

At 6-foot-4.5, 270 pounds, he’s one of the nation’s top SDE held offers from Alabama, Georgia, Miami, TCU, and OU. The Sooners were thought to be his leaders for the longest, but a strong foundation from DL coach Oscar Giles, and possibly a late surge from current players on social media seemed to seal the deal.

“It was a great visit,” said Tatum, about his recent trip to the 40 Acres. “Right now they’re one of my top schools. Loved the coaches, facilities, the players; it was all great. Right now, coach Giles probably calls me or texts me everyday. I’ve connected with him. I like it.”

Even two months ago, Texas had made a lasting impression on the one of the nation’s top defensive lineman, who missed the Texas Spring game. But that didn’t matter.

“It doesn’t matter if I stay home or leave the state,” Tatum said that afternoon. “It’ll be based off the people and coaches.”

As it happens those people and coaches are Longhorns. Herman has shown the uncanny ability to manufacture momentum without taking a snap. Especially with out-of-state prospects. Just imagine when the in-state guys start jumping on board. And they better start soon before the ship fills up.

Ron Tatum at The Opening in Frisco. (Justin Wells/IT)

Ron Tatum at The Opening in Frisco. (Justin Wells/IT)

Evaluation from the Recruiting Notebook:

How he fits at Texas: Tatum is the ideal kind of DL to fit into Orlando’s aggressive scheme. He’s big at around 6-foot-4.5, 270, but more importantly he’s explosive and can laterally with ease as well. That all projects him to 4i-technique DE quite nicely but also as a guy that could swing inside to DT in even fronts like Texas’ current 2-4 package or basically anywhere that Orlando wanted him in order to create matchup problems. Every scheme wants and needs guys that can move like this at this size with this kind of length, really. – Ian Boyd

Check out his highlights from the 2016 season.

Tatum becomes the 6th member of Texas’ 2018 class joining Reese Moore (Seminole), Cameron Rising (Newbury Park, CA), Casey Thompson (Southmoore, OK), Byron Hobbs (FW Eastern Hills), and Justin Watkins (Ocala [FL] Vanguard).

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