Zach Tom Wins Jim Tatum Award
11/29/2021 8:58:00 AM | Football
The redshirt junior offensive lineman becomes the fifth Demon Deacon to win this prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference award.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest football redshirt junior offensive lineman Zach Tom was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's 2021 Jim Tatum Award recipient on Monday. Tom is the fifth Demon Deacon to win this prestigious honor and he will be celebrated at the league's legends dinner on Friday in Charlotte.
"Everyone on our staff is extremely proud of how Zach Tom has excelled on and off the field during his career at Wake Forest," head coach Dave Clawson said. "His dedication and hard work have allowed him to become one of the best offensive tackles in the country and he is just the second football student-athlete to enroll in Wake Forest's prestigious M.B.A. program. On behalf of our football program, I would like to thank the Atlantic Coast Conference for recognizing Zach as the 2021 Jim Tatum Award recipient."
The award is given annually in memory of the late Jim Tatum to the top senior student-athlete among the league's football players. Tatum, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, coached in the 1950s at both Maryland and North Carolina and believed strongly in the concept of the student-athlete.
Tom, who was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy this year, has appeared in 46 games, making 35 starts including all 34 over the last three seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, Tom is the only player in the country with a 90.0-plus pass blocking grade and a 75.0-plus run blocking rating.
Zach Tom was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the first time of his career following Wake Forest's win over Duke. During that game, he anchored the Wake Forest offensive line that tallied 677 yards, the second-highest total in program history.
Overall for the season, Tom helped Wake Forest's offense rank third in the country in scoring offense (42.9), while ranking ninth in total offense (483.6). Additionally, the Demon Deacons are on pace to smash the program scoring mark as the Deacs more than a touchdown better than their record-setting pace a season ago of 36.0 points per game.
Heading into the 2021 season, Tom has played in 1,902 snaps and has given up just one sack while grading out at 92% overall and has only been called for three penalties.
The ACC's leading returner in pass block efficiency was recognized this preseason as an All-American by Phil Steele. Tom was also placed on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, given to the best interior lineman in the country.
Since arriving on campus ahead of the 2017 season, the Demon Deacons have enjoyed a wealth of success. Tom has helped the Deacs reach a bowl game every year he has been on campus, extending the streak to a school record five consecutive seasons. The streak is also the third-longest active streak in the ACC.
As impressive as he has been on the field, Tom has been equally impressive off the field. He was named a 2021 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient after completing his undergraduate degree in Business and Enterprise Management with Cum Laude honors this spring.
Tom has been an All-ACC Academic Team member each of the past two seasons while also earning ACC Academic Honor Roll honors during all four years in Winston-Salem. He is currently pursuing his Master's of Business, becoming just the second Wake Forest football student-athlete to enroll in the MBA program, joining Eric Osteen.
In the community, Tom participates in the annual WFU Move-In Day to create a more enjoyable move in experience for first year students, meeting families, carrying their bags and being a welcoming face.
He also supports the Hit the Bricks for Cancer Research and Pump Up for Piccolo, an annual event led by the Gamma Phi Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha and Wake Forest Football team in a philanthropic effort to raise money for cancer research and awareness for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Fund.
Wake Forest Jim Tatum Award Winners
-
1982 - Phil Denfield, TE
-
1983 - Phil Denfield, TE
-
1991 - Steve Ainsworth, OL
-
2009 - Riley Skinner, QB
-
2016 - Ryan Janvion, S
-
2021 - Zach Tom, OL
