Indianapolis Colts select Laiatu Latu in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Indianapolis Colts have selected former UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Latu showed promise as a freshman at Washington before suffering a serious neck injury ahead of his sophomore season which forced him to medically retire from football. He entered the NCAA transfer portal after the 2021 season in search of a program to continue his football career with. That program ended up being UCLA, and for the last two seasons of his collegiate career, Latu shined.

In 2022, he compiled 36 tackles (23 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He outdid himself this past season, tallying 49 tackles (28 solo), 21.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. Latu’s total of 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons is the most by a UCLA player since Anthony Barr (2012-13). He was named the 2023 Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Latu also took home the 2023 Lombardi Award, which goes annually to the college football offensive lineman/tight end or defensive lineman/linebacker who exemplifies the character and discipline of Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.

Latu played high school football for Jesuit in Carmichael, California, where he was a four-star prospect. He ranked as the No. 116 overall prospect and No. 6 edge rusher in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Laiatu Latu

Lance Zierlein of NFL Network said that “everything about Latu’s skill set and production is translatable to the NFL,” though there are concerns about his prior injuries.

“Latu possesses the kind of rare maturity to his game that you usually see from NFL veterans,” Zierlein wrote. “He rarely stays blocked by tackles as a run defender and dominates blocking tight ends on the collegiate level. His pass-rush approach is both well conceived and instinctive, and he’s brilliant at taking possession of the rep using clever hands and slippery angles to pry open opportunities. His eyes play beyond blockers, and he feeds off of a voracious motor that keeps him pushing forward as a run defender and pass rusher.

“Concerns surrounding his neck injury (while at Washington) will certainly come into play when he gets to medical exams, but his durability and play at UCLA are certainly promising. Everything about Latu’s skill set and production is translatable to the NFL, and he could become a Pro Bowler as a 3-4 outside linebacker with a heavy influence on the game.”