LOS ANGELES — Edge rusher Laiatu Latu led a group of 12 UCLA football players who auditioned for representatives from 31 of the 32 NFL teams, including the Rams and Chargers, on Friday.
“The guys came out and did their thing,” UCLA coach Deshaun Foster said. “(I) haven’t seen them in a while so it’s exciting to see them all come back with how they look body-wise.”
Foster’s advice to the players ahead of the Pro Day event was to embrace the feeling of being excited about the process rather than nervous while reminding them that this was something they’d work toward.
Latu, who is projected as a first-round pick, participated in select drills during his pro day as a follow-up to his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month.
“Just looking back at the combine and tweaking up some things that I think I could’ve gotten better at,” Latu said about his mindset Friday. “I’m just focused on football and not any times or anything like that.”
The edge rusher didn’t run the 40-yard dash at UCLA but wanted to display his versatility in pass coverage, which was one of the drills he participated in along with other members of the defensive line. He also participated in the cone drill and the short shuttle.
Gabriel Murphy and Darius Muasau also participated at the combine as linebackers, competing alongside some of the best players at the position. Like Latu, the duo also participated in select drills.
Official results for each player weren’t publicly released but Foster made it a point to highlight some of the Bruins’ efforts following the showcase event.
Defensive back Alex Johnson ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr., who was listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds last season, ran a 4.5.
“I wanted to show my fluidity as a runner, as a mover and in my backpedal,” Johnson said. “I wanted to show I could jump a little bit and I think I did that well.”
Johnson put on some weight as a result of his offseason training and expressed that he had to overcome nerves coming into the event.
“Leading up to the event, there was some nervous energy,” Johnson said. “But once I was out there with my boys and the music was playing, it was just like I was out at practice so the nerves were gone.”
Johnson, who had a meeting planned with the San Francisco 49ers following his pro day workout, had reached out to his former UCLA teammate and roommate Greg Dulcich (Denver Broncos) for advice on what to expect from the pro day setting. Johnson and Dulcich joined the program as walk-ons in 2018.
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Running back Carson Steele and defensive lineman Grayson Murphy produce a 37-inch vertical jump.
Steele spent just one season at UCLA after transferring in from Ball State but Foster had seen enough, while serving as his running backs coach, to know that he has what it takes to play at the next level.
“He’s a good running back with good hands and (plays) physical,” Foster said of Steele. “He runs hard and makes the first guy miss and he can pick up protection. He’s an all-around back.”
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Various alumni returned to support their former teammates, including quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns), running back Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks) and offensive lineman Atonio Mafi (Patriots), who all participated in UCLA’s pro day last year.
“We want alumni to know they can come back,” Foster said. “You aren’t a Bruin for four years, its a 40-year plan so come back as much as possible, use the facilities and train with the (current) guys and let them see that you sat in the exact same seat as them and made it to the NFL and show it is possible.”
There were several other notable names around the practice facility, including Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, who are in town to play the Lakers on Saturday.