Hard-hitting former OHIO STATE BUCKEYE and Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61

Hard-hitting former OHIO STATE BUCKEYE and Raider Jack Tatum dies at 61

Tatum grew up in Passaic, N.J. and had little interest in organized sports until high school. He grew to love football and was offered a scholarship to Ohio State.

Recruited as a running back, Tatum would sneak over to the defensive side to play linebacker. In time, the Ohio State coaches—particularly secondary coach Lou Holtz—recognized that Tatum was a natural on defense.

Tatum was a part of the “super sophs” class that led Ohio State to an unbeaten season and the national championship in 1968. He stole the headlines in the Buckeyes’ showdown with No. 1 Purdue early in the season, shadowing All-American running back Leroy Keyes in Ohio State’s 13-0 upset of the Boilermakers.

In his three years as a starter, Tatum’s teams went 27-2 and won two Big Ten titles.

Each week after an Ohio State game, the coaching staff awards the “Jack Tatum hit of the week” award for the hardest tackle or block by a Buckeye.

“We have lost one of our greatest Buckeyes,” current Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said in a statement. “When you think of Ohio State defense, the first name that comes to mind is Jack Tatum. His loss touches every era of Ohio State players and fans.”

Raiders safety Michael Huff sent a message on Twitter after learning of Tatum’s death: “R.I.P. Jack Tatum the assassin. One of the best safetys to ever play this game, his legacy will live forever.”

It was unfortunate that Tatum’s hitting overshadowed how well he did everything else, Brown said.

“Jack should be in the Hall of Fame. There’s no question, no doubt about it,” he said. “When you’re playing back in the middle, you have one job to do (and) that’s stop the long pass right down the middle. He did that better than anybody that I could think of.”