Who Is Derrick Tatum
Who Is Derrick Tatum — and Why Every High School Athlete and Parent Should Know His Name
In a recruiting landscape crowded with opinions, promises, and noise, Derrick Tatum stands apart as someone who has actually done the work, lived the process, and changed outcomes for athletes at every level.
A former NFL veteran, nationally respected recruiting expert, and proven mentor, Tatum has spent years building one of the most impactful football development and exposure ecosystems in the country. His experience is not theoretical. It is rooted in professional football, elite athlete development, and thousands of real recruiting success stories.
As the CEO of Elite Talent Football Academy, he is widely regarded as an expert in athlete development and a key architect of the modern recruiting blueprint for student-athletes navigating the path to college football and beyond. Tatum’s career reflects a rare combination of elite-level playing experience and more than a decade of specialized work in athlete evaluation, mentorship, and development.
As a player, he was a high school All-American and a two-position All-State performer at safety and running back before continuing his career at the University of Kentucky, competing in the SEC against top national talent. His professional career included time in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks, as well as seasons in the Arena Football League with organizations such as the New York Dragons and Georgia Force.
Today, Tatum serves as the Director of National Camps for the National College Evaluation Camp (NCEC), where he oversees one of the most influential exposure and evaluation platforms in the country. In addition to his on-field impact, he is a strong advocate for athlete education and mentorship through his podcast, Tatum Talks, where he provides insight into recruiting, development, and life beyond football.
Across every stage of his career, Derrick Tatum has focused on helping athletes and families understand not just how to compete—but how to navigate the system strategically, responsibly, and successfully.
A Proven Blueprint That Has Produced Results
Tatum is the founder of NCEC Camp, widely regarded as one of the largest and most influential football camps in the South. Each year, NCEC events draw thousands of athletes, including some of the nation’s top 4- and 5-star prospects, college coaches from every level, and evaluators who understand what it truly takes to play beyond high school.
Over the past decade, athletes who have trained, competed, and been evaluated within Tatum’s ecosystem have earned tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships and advanced to the NFL and other professional football leagues. His camps have become a trusted environment where elite prospects and overlooked athletes are evaluated on the same field, by the same standard. That matters.
Recruiting is not just about talent; it’s about access, timing, and accurate evaluation.
Why Derrick Tatum Is Different
What separates Derrick Tatum from many voices in the recruiting space is simple: he understands the full pipeline.
- He understands what college coaches actually look for
- He understands how elite athletes are developed and evaluated
- He understands how under-recruited athletes fall through the cracks
- And he understands how to close that gap with structure, not guesswork
His approach is direct, honest, and results-driven. Athletes don’t leave his camps with empty promises; they leave with clarity. Parents leave with actionable information.
Why Parents Should Pay Attention Now
For parents navigating the recruiting process for the first time, or after years of frustration, Derrick Tatum is a rare trusted guide with a proven track record.
He doesn’t sell shortcuts.
He doesn’t promise offers.
He provides structure, access, and truth.
As his blueprint expands nationally through Under Recruited Athlete, families now have an opportunity to learn directly from someone who has helped shape the journeys of some of the game’s most successful players, while intentionally opening doors for those who have been overlooked.
The Bottom Line
Derrick Tatum is not just another camp operator or recruiting voice. He is a builder of systems that work. For high school athletes serious about playing at the next level, and for parents who want real guidance instead of noise, he is someone you should know, follow, and learn from. Because the recruiting game is changing. And Derrick Tatum is helping lead that change.
A New Focus: Under-Recruited Athletes Nationwide
Today, Derrick Tatum is taking his blueprint national with a renewed focus on under-recruited athletes, players who have ability, work ethic, and character, but lack consistent exposure or guidance.
Through a strategic partnership with Under Recruited Athlete, Tatum is expanding his impact beyond traditional camps. Together, they are creating new exposure opportunities, camps, seminars, and educational events to reach underserved athletes and families in the recruiting process.
This next phase is intentional.
It combines:
- Elite evaluation environments
- National media exposure
- Parent education
- Realistic pathways to the next level
