Coach | 2022 ATH Dillon Tatum "Super Excited" About Notre Dame Offer
Over the last few years, Ron Bellamy has gotten to know the Notre Dame coaching staff even better than he already did.
The head coach at West Bloomfield High School in Michigan has been churning out top Division-I prospects at a dizzying pace and the Irish have chased several of them.
As of last week, they’re in on one of Bellamy’s younger standouts as they extended an offer to 2022 athlete Dillon Tatum.
“That was awesome,” Bellamy said. “That was great for Dillon. He’s super excited about it.”
Tatum is listed as an athlete and Bellamy himself isn’t sure where the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder will end up.
“He plays running back and defensive back for us,” the coach said. “He’s still young. He doesn’t have much experience at defensive back, he had a half-year back there. He was one of the top 5 in the state as a sophomore.”
Tatum is unlikely to get an overwhelming of action at running back this upcoming season either as West Bloomfield features one of the nation’s top running backs in the Class of 2021.
“Obviously, running back is his true calling, but with having Donovan Edwards there, it kind of limits his carries,” said Bellamy.
As for Notre Dame, it sounds like opinions differ depending on who you ask.
“Lance Taylor likes him at running back and Terry Joseph likes him at defensive back,” Bellamy laughed. “You recruit him as an athlete and he’s only 15 and has two years left of high school, so his body is still figuring itself out.”
Even with offers from schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Miami, Florida and Ole Miss among many others, Tatum was excited about Notre Dame for a simple reason.
“It’s Notre Dame,” said Bellamy. “It’s one of the marquee programs in America and a program with rich tradition. That’s one of those honorable commitments in the sense that the kids are super excited. Whenever they get a Notre Dame offer, it’s big time.”
Tatum joined Bellamy on trips to Michigan State and Ohio State and the coach is sure they’ll get to South Bend eventually as well.
“Without a doubt. Without a doubt.”