Football Daily

Born November 18, 1948, in Cherryville, North Carolina, the great Ohio State DB, Jack Tatum, was often called the “Assassin” for his hard-hitting style of play, but he also could blanket a receiver in coverage. The National Football Foundation writes that Jack was a unanimous First Team All-America selection in 1970 and a consensus pick in 1969; Tatum earned First Team All-Conference honors three times and was named National Defensive Player of the Year in 1970. A three-year starter, Tatum led the Buckeyes to a 27-2 record, two National Championships, and at least a share of three Big Ten Conference titles. The College Football Hall of Fame placed a plaque in honor of Jack Tatum’s fine play in their Gridiron Greats Museum in 2004. After he completed college, Tatum was a first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 1971 NFL Draft. Tatum played in the NFL for ten seasons, nine with Oakland and one with Houston, and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.