NFL Draft: UCLA’s Laiatu Latu drafted by Colts
Latu becomes the 36th Bruin drafted in the first round and the first since quarterback Josh Rosen and tackle Kolton Miller were selected in the 2018 draft.
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu will wear a different shade of blue as he begins his NFL career as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Latu achieved his goal of being the first edge rusher taken in the NFL draft, and wound up being the first defensive player taken after the 14 straight offensive picks to open the draft in Detroit.
He became the 36th Bruin drafted in the first round and the first since quarterback Josh Rosen and tackle Kolton Miller were selected in the 2018 draft. The last Bruins defender to be drafted in the first round was in 2017 when defensive end Takkarist McKinley was picked by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Colts’ selection came as a bit of a surprise to Latu when he heard his name because of the lack of communication he had with the team outside of an informal conversation at the scouting combine, which was held in Indianapolis.
“I didn’t talk to them my whole pre-draft,” Latu told reporters on a conference call. “I got a phone call from Indianapolis. … now I’m a Colt.”
Latu adds versatility to the Colts’ defensive line as a player who can hold in his own defending the run and the passing game. He has also displayed the ability to drop into coverage when asked.
“I’m someone who can be comfortable in any uncomfortable situation,” Latu explained. “I have a bunch of moves in my repertoire.”
What was supposed to keep him from going as high in the draft as he did was his medical history. He was projected by pundits on mock drafts as a player going in the second half of the opening round.
First defender off the board is a Colt.
#NFLDraft on ESPN/ABC/NFLN pic.twitter.com/GZ6GOuRYz1
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 26, 2024
Latu was forced to medically retire in 2021 due to a neck injury but sought out a second opinion from a doctor and was able to return to the field.
“I just wanted to prove that I can play again,” Latu said. “Throughout this whole process, there was a bunch of poking and prodding at the medicals but a lot of teams knew my character. … Overall it was a great pre-draft experience.”
Latu is coming off a season in which he was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and was awarded the Lombardi (best lineman) and Ted Hendricks (best defensive end) trophies. He finished his UCLA career with 85 total tackles (34 for a loss), 23.5 sacks and two interceptions in 25 games played. He also forced five fumbles and recovered a fumble.
He would always deflect any praise or acknowledgment of accolades and instead would bring up his teammates and wanting to win for them.
The UCLA football program showed its support back to Latu with head coach DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, athletic director Martin Jarmond and defensive tackle Jay Toia all in attendance in Detroit. The rest of the team watched Latu’s big moment in the team meeting room back in Westwood and were seen on the team’s X account cheering for him in a video.
Latu will already see some familiar faces among his new team when he arrives in Indianapolis. He’s previously worked with several NFL players including Colts defensive end Kwity Paye.
“I can’t wait to get in the building,” Latu said. “I look up to a lot of those dudes and I want to show them what I can do as well.”