UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu is one of 13 prospects invited to Detroit for the 2024 NFL draft, where he expects to hear his name called in the first round Thursday.
He will continue a football career that was once in jeopardy after he was told to medically retire ahead of his sophomore year at Washington due to a neck injury.
His determination wouldn’t allow his career to be cut short and he sought a second opinion.
While away from the game, Latu gained a new love and appreciation for the game and studied players like Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers and former Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
Latu also watched and emulated Redlands East Valley graduate and former Bruin Jaelan Phillips.
The former Bruin had a similar story to Latu, medically retiring at UCLA due to an injury and wondering if he’d ever play again before finding a second opportunity by transferring to Miami and being drafted 18th overall by the Dolphins in 2021.
After Latu was medically cleared for his return, he transferred to UCLA and became an immediate impact player in 2022 as was one of three recipients of the college football’s Comeback Player of the Year awards.
“He’s a complete football player,” said UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster, who will accompany Latu to the draft. “Somebody whose why is bigger than just money or something like that, and for him to come back from the type of injury that he had, that lets you know the type of dedication he has to football. Anybody that has something taken away from them, they go extra hard to get it back and him being the first-rounder that he is shows that.”
Latu met the high expectations for the 2023 season and produced 13 sacks before earning unanimous All-American status. His single-season sack total ranks third on the program’s all-time list, tying Carnell Lake (1987) and trailing only Anthony Barr (13½ in 2012) and Dave Ball (16½ in 2003).
He was also voted the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and was awarded the Lombardi (outstanding college lineman) and Ted Hendricks (best defensive end) trophies.
“His tape is such a joy to watch and I fell in love with him over the summer when we were getting into summer scouting and I really didn’t know anything about him and learned about his story,” Pro Football Focus NFL draft analyst Trevor Sikkema told the Southern California News Group. “I’ve had him top 20 and at least in my top three edge rushers wire to wire from summer up to this point now.”
Latu, Dallas Turner of Alabama and Jared Verse of Florida State have been considered among the “top tier” at the position and could go in any order Thursday evening.
Sikkema believes he would have had Latu within his top five or 10 players if he were more athletic.
Latu’s injury hasn’t been an issue during his UCLA career, but his medical history along with this being considered an offensive-heavy first-round draft class will potentially position the 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge rusher in the latter half of the first 32 picks.
Latu shared various photos on Instagram of visits with the Chargers (No. 5 overall pick), Arizona Cardinals (Nos. 4 and 27), Chicago Bears (Nos. 1 and 9) and Buffalo Bills (No. 28), among other teams.
Various mock drafts have Latu being drafted in the middle of the first round. Projections include the Rams (No. 19), Dallas Cowboys (No. 24), Green Bay Packers (No. 25) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 26).
NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks had tabbed Latu as the most explosive and most natural pass rusher in the draft because of his ability to attack from a variety of positions.
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Latu has explained on several occasions that he will spend the week leading up to a game studying all the potential matchups he may face and will take thorough notes on each of them with their strengths and weaknesses.
“I believe it’s hard to predict what I’m doing,” Latu said about his play on the field. “It’s not that I’m working a lot of moves but I have them in my (repertoire). I look at pass rush as being comfortable in an uncomfortable place and those moves just come out of me. It’s just reactionary.”
As of Sunday afternoon, Latu appeared to be rising on draft boards. DraftKings Sportsbook has him as a favorite, along with Turner, to be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8.
“Falcons getting Turner or Latu will change that defense!!” said defensive line coach Eddy McGilvra, who trains both players, in a post on X. “Can’t miss here.”