It seems like yesterday but it has been almost 2 years since we first laid eyes on Tatum Taylor. And it did not take much imagination to see that he was going to be something special. Since that time he has steadily risen on the grid iron and on the track to be a premier guy.
The 5’11” and 160 pound pure athlete from O’Dea High School has become one hot commodity. He now holds offers for football from Purdue who want him as a wide receiver. In the past month or two Wyoming jumped in too and want him as an RB.
And Monday it sounds like Washington is making their move. That he says was confirmed when Coach Steve Sarkisian spoke to him tonight at the UW Indoor Invitational.
“Yes he (Coach Sarkisian) came up to me today after I ran and said ‘After seeing you run I can’t let you leave the State’ and he said that I will for sure have a chance to play for the UW and (that) he will be coming up to see my coach and I on Monday,” said Taylor.
And he said Coach Sark seems to want to lock him down.
That might have something to do with the fact that tonight Tatum ran the fastest 60 Meter indoor time in the Nation this year. No doubt about it. We confirmed that 100% from DyeStat. Here are the top 10 times in the Nation this year.
| Event | Rank | Mark | By | Meet |
| B-60 | 1 | 6.79 | NEW! Taylor, Tatum (2013) (O’Dea, WA) | UW Invitational(WA), 2012-01-27(#1) |
| B-60 | 2 | 6.82 | Collins, Leshon (2012) (Glasgow, DE) | Armory Y/O/M Holiday Classic(NY), 2011-12-26(#2) |
| B-60 | 2 | 6.82 | Burrell, Cameron (2013) (Ridge Point, TX) | Carl Lewis Invitational(TX), 2012-01-14(#1) |
| B-60 | 4 | 6.83 | Harris, Marcus (2013) (Eaglecrest, CO) | Colorado School of Mines HS Open(CO), 2012-01-08(#1) |
| B-60 | 5 | 6.84 | Bailey, Aldrich (2012) (Timberview, TX) | Arkansas Invitational(AR), 2012-01-14(#1) |
| B-60 | 6 | 6.86 | Acy, Tremayne (2013) (Cedar Hill, TX) | Arkansas Invitational(AR), 2012-01-14(#2) |
| B-60 | 7 | 6.87 | Ahmed, Ali (2012) (Hastings, TX) | Carl Lewis Invitational(TX), 2012-01-14(#2) |
| B-60 | 8 | 6.88 | NEW! Redwine, Jakaryus (Oak Mountain, AL) | Last Chance Invitational(AL), 2012-01-28(#1) |
| B-60 | 8 | 6.88 | Authorlee, Jermaine (2012) (North Shore, TX) | Carl Lewis Invitational(TX), 2012-01-14(#3) |
| B-60 | 10 | 6.89 | Butler, Chaz (2012) (Overland, CO) | FCTC All Comer Meet(CO), 2012-01-07(#2) |
Was he happy?
“I never ran a 60 meter before. So you bet. That tells me my hard work is paying off,” said Taylor who is a really great kid to talk to and to get to know.
But will a kid this fast with what appears to be Olympic potential be able to handle school, Football, and Track?
“I think so. It will take work but I see not reason I can not,” Tatum offered.
So if he gets the Washington verbal offer Monday as promised will that be it for the Seattle native? After all UCLA, Oregon, and a host of other elite schools will likely want in too.
” I would love to go to the UW but if a school like Oregon or UCLA came around I would give them a shot too,” he said.
Well it is early and as we have pointed out the recruiting game is just that. A game.
With all these actual victories and personal bests it seems he will be pulled in both a track and football direction for his off season schedule. So what does he see himself getting out too?
