Hobart quarterback Aleks Tatum describes himself as “an introvert.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Tatum has shown maturity and poise as a sophomore, but he’s not inclined to be outgoing.
“I don’t go out of my way to talk to people,” he said. “So sports is a big help. It’s always been a big part of my life. Playing with all the guys, making friends, I can’t think of what friends aren’t from sports because I played soccer, football, basketball, wrestling.”
In particular, Tatum’s role as the Brickies’ quarterback has compelled him to leave his comfort zone.
“I just talk to my guys,” he said. “I’m still young — I’m only a sophomore — so it’s a little different. But you have to step into that role — quarterback, leader — be there for the guys, get extra work in, talk to the guys to make sure they understand what’s going on, keep their heads right. It’s really being that connection between the players and the coaches. If they can’t go to the coaches, they can come to me.
“A lot of these seniors I’ve been playing with for years, since Pop Warner, since we were 5, 6. Max Pickett, Willy Shearer, Luke Juris — I could go on and on. I’ve been playing with these guys forever, known these guys forever. It’s just playing with your buds. We do have a lot of young kids in our group, but it’s not like, ‘Hey, you’re a sophomore. You’re a junior.’ No. It’s like, ‘Hey, you’re a part of this team.’”
Regardless of his self-perception, Tatum has made an impact on the team with his words and actions. Count Shearer, a senior running back/safety, among the teammates influenced by Tatum.
“He’s an overall great person, hard worker, team player, leader and just a great person to be around,” Shearer said. “I’ve known him since we were 5, 6 years old, and we’ve been playing ball together since then. He’s always been a real good friend of mine.
“He’s someone who competes every day and wants to get better and fights for everything and every opportunity. He’s one of the guys on the team who preaches the brotherhood and family motto day in and day out — a true testament to Hobart football. He’s a guy who’s always doing extra to get better and he’s always pushing others to get better. He’s an overall great kid, and I’m glad I can call him a brother.”
Senior kicker/punter Zander Lankford also had high praise for Tatum.
“He’s the type of guy who puts everything on the line for the team and cares about each and every person,” Lankford said. “He never doubts anyone and constantly holds everyone to a high standard. He’s a very hardworking guy who has stepped up into a pretty big spot to fill and has continued to show how he is a great leader.
“He has a bunch of potential, and we are just seeing a glimpse of it this season.”
Tatum has thrown for 1,194 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions this season as Hobart (5-4) prepares to open Class 4A sectional play at Northwest Crossroads Conference rival Lowell (4-5). He has also rushed for 416 yards and five TDs for the Brickies, who shared the conference title with Andrean and Hanover Central.
Tatum, who was the quarterback for the junior varsity team last season, has made a successful transition to the varsity level.
“It’s big until you actually do it,” he said. “I talked it up in my head that it would be this huge thing, and it is. It means a lot to play on this field and to play for this program. But once I really stepped onto the field, it’s really no different than 11 years ago when I started playing. It’s that same mentality, that same ‘hey, go out and have fun.’”
Tatum’s accomplishments in wrestling helped prepare him. As a freshman 190-pounder — “there are some men in there,” he said — Tatum was a sectional runner-up, won a regional title, placed second at semistate and competed in the state meet.
“That’s a big contributor to that mindset,” he said. “Making it down to state as a freshman, that was a big thing that helped with football. Everything seemed huge with football. Then you go down there, it’s such a big thing, the lights are much brighter, seeing all of these people, that definitely helps with the mindset.”
Tatum didn’t hold back when mentioning his goals for the upcoming wrestling season.
“I’m going for it all,” he said. “I’m going for it all as a sophomore. I may be young, but I’m going for it all. You have to have that mentality.”
Tatum also takes that approach in football. He has a keen appreciation for the Brickies’ history and tradition, which includes four state championships and a state-best eight runner-up finishes.
“Growing up, my mom used to talk to me about how when she went here, they still played at the Brickie Bowl,” Tatum said. “It’s this huge past, and it’s a lot to play up to. But I want to make that our future. I want to make it what it was to now. I want to bring that back to Hobart, to bring that back to the community and give the people what they want — a state championship.”
Tatum could be part of that equation.
“He’s an incredible kid,” Hobart coach Eric Schreiber said. “He’s everything and more that we wanted from him as a quarterback. His development from the spring until now has been such a drastic improvement. The intangibles of a quarterback, not just his ability to play the position, but the leadership ability of the kid, we are extremely blessed to have him on our football team. Leading our kids, leading our program the way he has as a sophomore, it’s absolutely remarkable.
“He’s a vocal leader in the locker room for a young guy. Some guys aren’t really good at that, but he does a great job of being a vocal leader. His work ethic, it doesn’t matter who we play week to week, he’s the same kid with the same standard and the ability to bring other guys along with him. He’s an awesome leader.”
Tatum actually was born in Alaska. His family moved back to Hobart when he was 4 years old. His father is from Australia but attended high school and college in Anchorage.
“My mom is a travel nurse, my dad went on family trips to Alaska and they ended up meeting,” Tatum said. “I’m from Alaska, but Hobart’s my hometown. Everything I remember, all of my friends, it’s here in Hobart.”
