The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line
- Email:
- ktatum@uab.edu
- Phone:
- 975-9536
Kyle Tatum enters his seventh season as the defensive line coach at UAB and has guided his unit to record-setting numbers since the program’s return to the playing field in 2017.
The Blazers have finished top-20 nationally in total defense each of the past four seasons, including ranking top 10 from 2018-2020. UAB has had some of the most disruptive and productive defensive lines in the nation during that stretch.
In the past four years, UAB has compiled 147 sacks and 350 TFLs. The defensive success has resulted in UAB winning three C-USA West Division titles (2018-20) two Conference USA Championships (2018, 2020) and two bowl games (2018, 2021).
Led by First Team All-Conference USA selection Tyree Turner, the Blazers ranked 16th nationally in total defense in 2021. The defensive line helped UAB finish the year 11th nationally in rushing defense as the Blazers finished the year with 34 sacks and 73 tackles for loss.
The defense saved its best performance for its 31-28 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl victory over No. 13 BYU. The Blazers held one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation to just 28 points and less than 400 total yards of offense. The win was UAB’s highest ranked victory in program history.
In 2020, the Blazers were ranked seventh in the country in total defense after allowing opponents just 311.1 yards per game. The Green and Gold also finished the 2020 season ranked seventh nationally in third down defense (.298) after holding opponents to just 26-of-101 on third downs.
In 2019, First Team All-Conference USA performer Garrett Marino helped UAB finish eighth nationally in total defense, third in third down defense (.283), 11th in sacks per game (3.14) and 14th in TFL per game (7.6).
Marino was the most productive interior lineman in the league, compiling 43 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks, seven pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. Next to him at nose tackle, Tony Fair also garnered All-Conference honors, finishing with 36 tackles, 5.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks. This duo helped stuff the run, allowing just 118.2 rushing yards per game.
In 2018, Tatum helped coach the Blazers to a program-best 11-3 overall record which included winning the school’s first Conference USA title and bowl game.
Led by a trio of All-Conference performers on the D-line, UAB finished 2018 ranked ninth nationally in total defense. The Blazers also established a new school record for sacks (48) and TFL (111), which ranked them fifth and seventh in the country, respectively.
Leading the way was current NFL lineman Anthony Rush. A Second Team All-Conference USA performer and Boca Raton Bowl MVP, the nose tackle was a monster in the run game and finished the year with 43 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 11.0 TFL.
Additionally, Garrett Marino and Quindarius Thagard were both Honorable Mention All-Conference USA. Along with 3.5 sacks and 6.5, Marino scored eight points on the year with a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 31-24 victory over Tulane and a safety in a 29-21 victory over North Texas. Thagard registered 37 total tackles, 4.0 sacks and 7.0 TFL.
In Tatum’s first year as the defensive line coach in 2017, he guided a unit that featured two All-Conference USA performers and a group which ranked in the top 50 nationally in tackles for loss.
Collectively, UAB had 84 tackles for loss for a combined 288 yards, which was paved by the defensive line. The Blazers had no less than three TFL in every game during the 2017 campaign, including reaching double digit TFLs twice (Alabama A&M – 12, UTSA – 10).
Senior tackle Teko Powell and sophomore tackle Garrett Marino were each Honorable Mention All-Conference USA. Powell was huge for UAB in stopping the run, while Marino became a starter halfway through the season and finished with 8.0 TFL, while fellow nose tackle Anthony Rush had 9.0 TFL.
Tatum was named UAB’s defensive line coach in February of 2017 following his time as the Blazers’ strength and conditioning assistant since the Fall of 2016.
Tatum began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas State from 2011-2012 under the direction of head coach Dennis Franchione. In 2012 he coached tight ends and was subsequently promoted to defensive tackles coach from 2013-2015.
During the 2013 season, defensive lineman Michael Odiari was named Third Team All-Sun Belt. Odiari tripled his sack output between his junior and senior seasons, finishing with 9.0, and was recognized as a unanimous First Team All-Sun Belt Conference defensive lineman.
Prior to entering the coaching profession, Tatum was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Alabama from 2002-2006, contributing his efforts to both the offensive and defensive lines. For his standout efforts in the classroom, he earned 2003 Academic All-SEC honors.
After racking up 14 tackles during his redshirt freshman year, Tatum transitioned to the offensive line in 2004, starting nine games and taking 739 snaps at right tackle.
He proceeded to start all 12 games in 2005, again at right tackle, which included a 13-10 victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl, and was recognized as an honorable mention All-SEC offensive lineman. Tatum finished with 16 knockdown blocks during the 2006 season.
Tatum attended Prattville High School in Prattville, Ala., where he had a stellar prep career under the leadership of Bill Clark. Tatum, considered a high school All-American according to numerous publications, was a Birmingham News Dandy Dozen pick his senior year in addition to receiving honorable mention All-State honors. He led the Lions to the quarterfinals of the Class 6A state playoffs his senior year.
He graduated from Alabama in 2006 with a degree in business management.
Tatum is married to Andrea Orr Tatum and they have one daughter, Emma, and three sons, Tuck, Tripp and Walker.
