Laiatu Latu

A 4-star recruit out of high school, Latu began his collegiate career at Washington and had a decent 2019 freshman campaign before sustaining a major neck injury during fall practices in 2020. The injury was so severe that Latu not only missed both 2020 and 2021 seasons, but he was medically advised to retire from football by Washington team doctors, which he initially did. However, Latu made the decision to transfer to UCLA for the 2022 season, where doctors cleared him to return to football activities. Laiatu Latu is a 5th year junior edge rusher, who was one of the most productive pass rushers in all of college football last season. Primarily a stand-up rusher from a wide 7 or 9 alignment, he can also play as a 5 or 4i technique from a down lineman position when asked to. Latu has had a very interesting career at UCLA, reminiscent of 2021 1st round draft pick Jaelan Phillips. What followed was a very impressive and efficient season where he recorded 12 sacks and 65 pressures (per PFF); pressure numbers that put him tied with Will Anderson Jr. for 4th overall in all of college football, despite not being a full starter for the Bruins. Latu had an enormous 2023 season for the Bruins. In 12 games he collected 13 sacks and 49 tackles, 21.5 of those tackles were for a loss.