Mike Anthony Tatum (born April 29, 1986) is an

indoor American football Indoor American football, or arena football, is a variation of gridiron football played at ice hockey-sized indoor arenas. While varying in details from league to league, the rules of indoor football are designed to allow for play in a smaller a ...

wide receiver for the

Bismarck Bucks The Bismarck Bucks are an indoor American football team based in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Bucks joined Champions Indoor Football (CIF) as an expansion team in 2016, and began play for the 2017 season. The team moved to the Indoor Football Lea ...

of the

Indoor Football League The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams amon ...

(IFL). He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

Oxnard College Oxnard College is a public community college in Oxnard, California. It was established in 1975 by the Ventura County Community College District. It serves the Oxnard Plain cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme. Oxnard College offers both ...

. He signed as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

with the

Marion Mayhem The Marion Mayhem were a professional indoor football team based in Marion, Ohio. The team was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL), later renamed the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), joining in 2006 as an ...

in 2009. He played with the Mayhem until their demise during the 2010 season. Tatum then finished the 2010 season with the Fort Wayne FireHawks. Tatum then returned to Marion in 2011, when a new franchise called the

Marion Blue Racers The Marion Blue Racers were a professional indoor football team based in Marion, Ohio. The Blue Racers began play as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2011, before moving to the United Indoor Football League (U ...

expanded into the CIFL. Tatum has also played for the

Everett Raptors The Everett Raptors were a professional indoor football team based in Everett, Washington. The Raptors were member of the Intense Conference of the Indoor Football League (IFL). They played their home games at the Comcast Arena at Everett in Ever ...

of the IFL. Tatum is known for his return capabilities, winning Special Teams Player of the Year in 2 different leagues.

Early life

Mike was a graduate of

Marion-Franklin High School Marion-Franklin High School (MFHS, Marion) is a four-year high school (grades 9-12) located on the south side of Columbus, Ohio, at 1265 Koebel Road. Marion-Franklin is one of 17 traditional high schools in the Columbus City Schools district. The ...

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...

. He excelled in football, basketball and track & field.

College career

Later continued his academic and athletic abilities at

Oxnard, California Oxnard () is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. On California's South Coast, it is the most populous city in Ventura County and the 22nd-most-populous city in California. Incorporated in 1903, Oxnard lies approximately west ...

Professional career

Marion Mayhem

In 2009, Tatum joined the

as a wide receiver and return man. After a 61-57 comeback win over the Wheeling Wildcats, Tatum was named the CIFL Special Teams Player of the Week. After 6 games with the Mayhem in 2010, the team folded for financial reasons. At the time Tatum was leading the Mayhem with 20 catches for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tatum also had 23 kickoff returns for 500 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Fort Wayne FireHawks

After the season abruptly ended for the Mayhem, Tatum, as well as a few other Mayhem players, signed to play with the Fort Wayne Firehawks, also of the CIFL. Tatum was able to return one missed field goal for a touchdown in the final game of the season against the

Chicago Cardinals The professional American football team now known as the Arizona Cardinals previously played in Chicago, Illinois, as the Chicago Cardinals from 1898 to 1959 before relocating to St. Louis, Missouri, for the 1960 through 1987 seasons. Roots ca ...

. In his two games for the FireHawks, he had 2 catches for 19 yards and a touchdown, as well as returning one kickoff for 21 yards. For his efforts on the season, Tatum was rewarded with the CIFL's Special Teams Player of the Year award.

Marion Blue Racers

In 2011, the city of Marion got a new indoor football team in the form of the

. Owned by former

Pittsburgh Steeler The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

, LaMonte Coleman, the team quickly gained momentum by signing Tatum and other great indoor football players. He was twice named the CIFL Special Teams Player of the Week. The team went on to a record 8-2 regular season, during which Tatum racked up 23 kickoff returns for 568 yards and 2 scores, and again won CIFL Special Teams Player of the Year honors. He led the Blue Racers with 26 catches for 310 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 2 touchdowns and threw for another. Tatum re-signed with the Blue Racers for the 2012 season, as they transitioned into the UIFL.

Everett Raptors

In 2012 Mike Tatum signed to play with

expansion team

. The team ultimately finished 5-9, Tatum was named IFL Special Teams Player Of The Week 2 times, including week 3 and week 12. Playing in only 12 games, due to injury, he racked up 1015 kick return yards on 48 attempts, averaging 21.1 yds per return and also had 5 kickoffs returned for touchdowns. He tied the record for the longest return at 48 yards. Tatum also had 23 receptions for 325 yards averaging 14.1 yds per game. His longest reception was 41 yards. He also had 5 receiving touchdowns. Tatum rushed for 28 yards and a score on 16 attempts. Tatum finished the season second in all purpose yards with 1478 and 11 total TDs Tatum's efforts were good enough to earn him 2012 IFL Special Teams Player of The Year honors.

Sioux Falls Storm

Tatum signed with the

Sioux Falls Storm The Sioux Falls Storm are a professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 ...

, also of the Indoor Football League, for the 2013 season.

Marion Blue Racers

Tatum re-joined the Blue Racers for the 2014 season.

Sioux Fall Storm

After the Blue Racers season ended, Tatum re-joined the Storm. Tatum enjoyed a 2015 season that saw him finish 7th in the IFL in All-purpose yards. Tatum returned to the Storm for 2016. On October 16, 2017, Tatum re-signed with the Storm.

Bismarck Bucks

On January 28, 2019, Tatum signed with the

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tatum, Mike Living people American football wide receivers Marion Mayhem players Fort Wayne FireHawks players Marion Blue Racers players Sioux Falls Storm players Bismarck Bucks players 1986 births Everett Raptors players