DE Laiatu Latu:
Scouting Reports:
Walter football: https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2024llatu.php
Draft Network: https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2023/12/27/laiatu-latu-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2024
NFL Draft Buzz: https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Laiatu-Latu-LB-Washington
Fantasy Pro: https://www.fantasypros.com/2023/11/2024-nfl-draft-scouting-report-laiatu-latu-de-ucla/
Video:
Laiatu Latu runs official 4.64-second 40-yard dash at 2024 combine: https://www.nfl.com/videos/laiatu-latu-runs-40-yard-dash-at-2024-combine
Laiatu Latu Is A PASS RUSH ARTIST with highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrnkOtGSKk
Articles:
2024 NFL Draft Buzz: Latest league news, rumors from ahead of Thursday's Round 1 (Could injury questions drop Latu? UCLA edge Laiatu Latu is NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's 16th-ranked prospect. However, Latu missed two years of college football and was forced to medically retire at one point while at Washington due to a injury. He's since rebounded and was a force at UCLA, but Schrager said Thursday that "teams are split on the medical." Will talent and potential win out for Latu, or will health concerns cause a drop? It could be a storyline to monitor on Night 1 of the draft.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-buzz-latest-league-news-rumors-from-ahead-of-thursday-s-round-1
6 Players Lions Could Trade up for in 2024 NFL Draft (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Latu is the most polished pass-rusher in this year's class. If the Lions are looking for the best possible compliment to Aidan Hutchinson from a pass-rush perspective, Latu is their guy. There are medical concerns with Latu, as he was forced to medically retire during his college career at Washington before he was able to revive it at UCLA. He was dominant over his last two years with the Bruins, notching a total of 23.5 sacks over that span. If the Lions hone in on the pass-rush as their prime target, then trading up for Latu would be the prime answer.) (4-25-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/top-draft-prospects-lions-to-trade-up-for
5 players whose 2024 NFL Draft range is hard to predict, including Michael Penix Jr. (2. OLB Laiatu Latu: Latu’s medicals might slide him down the draft board a bit, as a clean bill of health would likely lock him in to a top 10-15 range with how productive he was at UCLA. Whether or not he’s even on teams’ draft boards is probably dependent on how comfortable teams are with the medical issues from his days at Washington. Some teams will likely covet what he can immediately bring to the table as a pass-rusher. However, if he didn’t go until late in the first, it wouldn’t shock us.) (4-24-24): https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-draft-2024-player-predictions-penix-kool-aid-mckinstry
NFL Teams Are Split on Laiatu Latu's Medicals (4-23-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/teams-split-laiatu-latu-medicals
Insider notes on 2024 NFL Draft: Patriots' #3 pick could be for sale, Raiders split over draft choice, and latest on Kool-Aid McKinstry's stock (2024 NFL Draft: EDGE rusher ratings - There are four true edge rushers expected to be selected in the first round, including Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, Chop Robinson and Laiatu Latu. Turner will be the first one selected, and there’s a 99% chance he ends up in the top 10. The remaining three are all over boards. While Verse is my No. 2 edge rusher, some have told me he could end up the last of this group to be drafted. Latu has received medical clearance from most teams, though I do know of at least two that failed him, but they don’t need an edge rusher. The belief just days before the draft is that the Los Angeles Rams will select Latu with the 19th selection.) (4-22-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-insider-notes-2024-nfl-draft-patriots-3-pick-sale-raiders-split-draft-choice-latest-kool-aid-mckinstry-s-stock
2024 NFL Draft: PFF analysts name their favorite draft prospects (RYAN SMITH: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA - Big Board Rank: 10. Latu is one of the most productive edge prospects of the past decade. He has a wide variety of pass-rush moves that will translate to the NFL level. Versatility is another plus for Latu, as he lined up on the left and right sides at a near-even split with a mix of two- and three-point stances. His medical history may scare some teams off, but no rookie has a higher pass-rushing ceiling than Latu.) (4-22-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-pff-analysts-favorite-draft-prospects
Surprise top-10 selections, trades, other draft topics (6. Which player has the chance to be a surprise top-10 pick? Wilson: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA. "I hear that Laitu Latu has been cleared medically and that the former UCLA pass rusher is likely a top 13 pick. It'll be tough to crack the top 10 -- not because he's not worth it -- but because there will be a run on offensive players at the top of the draft. That said, Latu is the most technically sound pass rusher in this class and teams love his motor and his demeanor.") (4-22-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-biggest-questions-veteran-trades-surprise-top-10-picks-and-answers-to-other-pressing-topics/
NFL Draft 2024: Top 10 edge rushers, from Dallas Turner to Marshawn Kneeland (3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA (6-5, 239 pounds): Latu is a versatile outside-inside pass rusher in the Michael Bennett vein. He's proved to be a sleek athlete who can consistently finish with power and explosiveness. His decision to return to school has helped him improve his all-around game. Draft projection: Early-to-mid first-round pick) (4-17-24): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-2024-prospects-edge-rusher-rankings/b51e9a544ce6c1348b54aa65
NFL draft: Top defensive players on the board (Laiatu Latu, 6-4, 259, UCLA - Scouting report: Skilled and technically proficient pass rusher with good size. Neither his burst nor power are elite, but the whole package works. Fact: A neck injury forced him to medically retire in 2020 after two seasons at Washington. He transferred to UCLA, was medically cleared, and had 23 1/2 sacks in two seasons. Gone by: Top 20 talent, but the medical history could knock him out of the first round.) (4-17-24): https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-2024-top-defensive-players-e8a6bc15052d112c5491c8525b6f0f64
2024 NFL Draft: Highest-graded edge defender in every category (TRUE PASS RUSH GRADE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA: 95.4. PFF’s top ranked edge prospect showcases lethal hands that strike with speed and precision mixed with an array of pass-rush moves that make him a nightmare matchup on true pass sets. Latu racked up over 26 pressures, including eight sacks, for a phenomenal 40.5% pass-rush win rate, the highest among edge prospects in this year’s class. NO PLAY-ACTION PASS-RUSH GRADE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA: 94.6. Latu managed to capture the top spot in both of PFF’s most stable pass-rushing metrics with the first two facet grades on this list. The UCLA product possesses a plethora of pass-rush moves made even more effective when Latu was left unburdened with sifting through run action. Latu cemented a class-leading 23.9% pressure rate, racking up 58 total pressures, including 13 sacks. EARLY-DOWN PASS-RUSH GRADE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA: 94.2. Keeping offenses off schedule with effective pass-rush on first and second downs is an increasingly more important facet in the modern NFL. The former Bruin was supremely effective in that regard, where he compiled a 13.6 pass block efficiency rate, tallying a class-leading 18 knockdowns, 11 of which went for sacks. PASS-RUSH GRADE WITH THREE OR FEWER RUSHERS: LAIATU LATU, UCLA: 92.6. Even at a numbers disadvantage, Latu generates pressure at a phenomenal clip, totaling an impressive 38.6% pressure rate with three or fewer pass-rushers on the field. The PFF All-American excelled when put into simulated pressure packages that matched him up with interior blockers where he could use his agility to dismantle guards and centers. RED ZONE RUN-DEFENSE GRADE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA: 88.9. The Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year always has eyes on the backfield and the awareness to sift through the noise to find ball carriers, a trait that's proven invaluable when backed up in the red zone. With opposing offenses pressing inside the 20-yard line, Latu produced a 26.9% positively graded play rate, including an incredible touchdown-saving forced fumble at the goal line in Week 2.) (4-12-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-highest-graded-edge-defender-in-every-category
2024 NFL Draft: 5 most underrated prospects (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA: There is nuance to the concept of being underrated. Latu is No. 16 on the consensus board, seen as a mid-first-round pick, but he is the third edge rusher and clearly viewed by many as a notable step down from the truly elite edge rusher prospects of the last decade. The PFF grading and his college production, however, suggest he belongs higher than that and with those top-tier prospects. Latu’s PFF grade last season was 96.3, and his pass-rush win rate was an absurd 26.2%. Only Chase Young has ever recorded a higher win rate over a single season with that kind of workload, and it was Latu’s second consecutive season of top-tier production. His athleticism was a question for many — certainly when compared to an elite athlete like Dallas Turner — but Latu’s workout at the NFL combine was better than people expected and his in-game athleticism as measured by tracking data and turned into PFF’s proprietary athleticism score — PFF GAS — was consistently elite. Latu scored in the 97th and then 99th percentile over the last two years in that area. His injury history is a concern, but on the field, Latu should be seen not only as the best edge rusher in this class but a top-10 selection overall.) (4-16-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-most-underrated-prospect-in-the-class
2024 NFL Draft EDGE rankings & analysis (1: Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu was a two-time National Champion on the rugby pitch in high school and was rated as the fourth-best defensive end from the 2019 recruiting class. He originally enrolled at Washington, where he sustained a neck injury that caused him to miss two seasons before getting medically cleared to play and transferring to UCLA prior to the 2022 campaign. Despite the extended time off, Latu wasted little time annihilating Pac-12 offensive lines for 65 pressures, 10.5 sacks and a 91st % pass rush grade (5th in P5) while winning the College Football Comeback Player of the Year award. Latu’s play ascended further last year, as he led the entire EDGE position with a 94.3 pass rush grade and 96th percentile overall grade with 13.0 sacks. His 26% win rate and 13.3% pressure rate were also tops nationally, as Latu solidified himself as the premier pure pass rusher from the 2024 class. Though he recorded 33 stops and an 82.1 run defense grade, his 24% missed tackle rate underscores Latu’s limitations in run support. Latu measured in at 6’046”, 259 pounds and ran an impressive 4.64s 40-yard dash (94th%) with a 7.09s 3-Cone (85th%) and 4.34 shuttle run (83rd%). He didn’t bench and put up a pedestrian 32” vert (55th%), but Latu’s overall athletic profile adds up to a strong 9.37 RAS. Latu doesn’t just run headlong into every rush snap, will triangulate and vary tempo when necessary to catch OT’s reaching. Lightning quick literally with a smooth slide step that will often cause the opposing tackle to completely whiff on contact, leaving Latu unabated to make a play. Despite some limitations standing up to mammoth OTs in run support, he’s fast enough to consistently beat OL to the leverage point on run plays. His fluid, natural ability to challenge tackles with a variety of different methods reminds me of Miami DE Jaelon Phillips, medicals and all.) (4-14-24): https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/2024-nfl-draft-edge-rankings-analysis
2024 NFL Draft: Brock Bowers headlines 6 first-round wild cards; what is Michael Penix Jr.'s ceiling/floor? (Laiatu Latu - Draft ceiling: 9) Chicago Bears. Draft floor: 19) Los Angeles Rams. As the most refined pass rusher in the 2024 class, Latu has created quite the buzz within the scouting community due to his long-term potential as a disruptive force. The UCLA standout's edge-rushing prowess resulted in 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, with the 6-5, 259-pounder flashing a dizzying array of moves to blow past blockers. Latu wreaks havoc on foes ill-equipped to deal with his varied techniques, from his nifty Euro step to his slick two-handed swipe to his nasty dip-and-rip maneuver. Though scouts are salivating over his potential as a premier pass-rushing specialist, his past medical issue is the unknown factor on his ultimate draft position. After suffering a serious neck injury, Latu was forced to medically retire at Washington in 2021. He transferred to UCLA, was cleared to play and starred for the Bruins. But the history still casts uncertainty on where he'll end up being selected.) (4-12-24): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-brock-bowers-headlines-6-first-round-wild-cards-what-is-michael-penix-jr-s-ceiling-floor
Insider notes on 2024 NFL Draft build-up: T'Vondre Sweat's stock takes a hit, Raiders decision-makers split over plans for QB (Latest on buzz around Laiatu Latu - One of the more interesting stories during the first round of the NFL Draft is where Laiatu Latu ends up. A dynamic pass rusher, Latu was forced to transfer to UCLA after he was medically retired by the University of Washington over neck injuries. His game took off with the Bruins, and there’s been no issues with his neck since, though NFL medical clearance is a totally different beast then being medically cleared to play on Saturdays. I’m told that, for the most part, it’s been so far so good for Latu, who has been medically cleared by most teams. Will Patriots draft a QB to kick off Jerod Mayo era? Fire up our NFL Draft Simulator to find outOne of those teams are the Los Angeles Rams, who hold the 19th pick of Round 1. While I’ve had Byron Murphy II mocked to the Rams with that first pick, there’s a good chance the Texas defensive tackle doesn’t make it that far and the Rams turn their attention to Latu.) (4-11-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-insider-notes-2024-nfl-draft-build-up-t-vondre-sweat-stock-takes-hit-raiders-split-plans-qb
2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu (4-11-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-scouting-report-ucla-edge-defender-laiatu-latu
2024 NFL Draft: The top-10 edge defender prospects if everyone in college football was eligible (2. LAIATU LATU, UCLA, 2024 - Latu’s 96.3 grade in 2023 wasn’t just the best by any player in the country this past season, it was the highest mark PFF’s seen by a Power Five player since we began charting college football in 2014. He’s one of the more NFL-ready pass-rushers in recent memory with excellent hand usage and a bevy of pass-rushing moves in his toolbox.) (4-10-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-the-top-10-edge-defender-prospects-if-everyone-in-college-football-was-eligible
2024 NFL Draft Top 10 Edge Rushers: Dallas Turner ranks as top dog, Chop Robinson, Laiatu Latu ones to keep an eye on (4. Laiatu Latu, UCLA: After leaving the Washington program due to medical concerns, Latu strung together two outstanding seasons for UCLA and was the pass rusher opponents could not stop.He possesses a long frame with growth potential and outstanding athleticism, and he’s a natural pass rusher who can also be used off the line of scrimmage in space. Latu comes with tremendous upside, and his position in the first round of the draft will be a matter of how teams review his medical reports. Laiatu Latu draft projection: late first round) (4-9-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-top-10-edge-rushers-dallas-turner-ranks-top-dog-chop-robinson-laiatu-latu-ones-keep-eye
Detroit Lions 2024 NFL Draft First-Round Big Board (No. 29 overall - EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA: The most polished pass-rusher in this year's Draft class is Latu, who was dominant over the last two seasons for the Bruins. His wide array of moves and counter-moves allowed him to notch 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson would give the Lions an electric young duo of pass-rushers.) (4-8-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/first-round-lions-2024-big-board
2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Edge defenders (3. ED LAIATU LATU, UCLA - PFF BIG BOARD RANK: 20. Overall, though somewhat limited athletically, his home is in the offensive backfield due to his hand usage and pass-rush moves that will continue to win at the NFL level.) (4-8-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-position-rankings-edge-defenders
2024 NFL Draft preview: 5 edge rushers that could interest Lions (3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA - 6-5, 259. 4.64 40-yard dash (1.62 10-yard split). A neck injury nearly ended his career, but Latu passed the medicals at the Combine. He said teams didn't have any concerns after going through the medicals. He won the Lombardi Award (nation's top college OL/DL) and Ted Hendricks Award (nation's top DE) this past season after leading the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss and was fourth with 13.0 sacks. Latu consistently plays football on the other side of the line of scrimmage. That's really the best way to describe his ability. He might be the most skilled rusher in the class and is ultra-disruptive.) (4-6-24): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-preview-5-edge-rushers-lions-turner-verse-latu
2024 NFL Draft: Prospects who raised their draft stock after pro days (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA: For whatever reason, Latu was labeled a lesser athlete headed into the pre-draft process, and while he hasn’t tested off the charts in every drill, his explosive first step off the line and phenomenal contact balance laterally as he slashes upfield are reflected in some of his numbers. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler shared Latu's pro-day agility testing scores, and as he said, they are great numbers for a player of his size. After Latu's medical retirement in college, there will be questions from NFL teams throughout the evaluation process, but there is absolutely no question that he is the most skilled edge rusher in this class as of today, with plenty of athletic ability at his size to translate to the next level.) (4-3-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-prospects-raised-draft-stock-pro-days
Laiatu Latu is an elite 2024 NFL Draft prospect whom teams shouldn't overlook (3-29-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-laiatu-latu-elite-edge-defender-2024-nfl-draft-prospect
2024 NFL Draft: Top 5 players at each defensive position (3. ED LAIATU LATU, UCLA) (3-27-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-top-5-players-at-each-defensive-position
One EDGE Rusher Lions Could Select in Every Round of NFL Draft (Round 1 - Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu has the potential to be an elite rusher at the NFL level. He has a deep array of moves and counter-moves that allow him to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. The area that impeded his progress was his medicals, as he was once set to medically retire while playing at Washington. He was able to revive his career, however, after transferring to UCLA. With 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons, he’s proven to be a strong contributor. His abilities would fit nicely opposite of Hutchinson on Detroit’s front line. ) (3-27-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/edge-targets-2024-draft
2024 NFL Draft: Defensive line prospect superlatives (DEEPEST PASS RUSH REPERTOIRE: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA - It’s crazy to think that we almost didn’t get to see the UCLA version of Latu due to a neck injury he suffered while playing at Washington that almost forced him to medically retire from football. Since missing time and getting his body right after that injury, Latu has been in the lab (film room) studying some of the best pass-rushers in the game and bringing their moves to the college field. Latu is excellent with his hands — his precision and timing when swiping offensive tackles off of him is NFL-level already. He also shows a variety of moves from a euro step to a two-handed swipe, a cross-chop, a dip-and-rip and much more. He can use so many counters with great muscle memory.) (3-26-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-defensive-line-prospect-superlatives
Fantasy Football: Analytical spotlight on the top 2024 rookie edge defenders (LAIATU LATU, UCLA
No. 3 ranked EDGE on the PFF big board - 98th percentile prospect profile among college EDGE prospects since 2016. Latu boasts an elite profile using this model, comparable to Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, Aidan Hutchinson and reigning defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr., who make up the top 98th percentile and above. The difference is that all five were drafted among the top three in their respective draft classes while Latu is currently projected to go in the latter half of the first round. Sam Monson has listed Latu as the most pro-ready edge prospect in this class, and watching the tape combined with his analytics, there is a clear argument for this to be the case. Latu has the most refined pass-rush repertoire of the group and a level of technique that has led to one of the more impressive production totals of 27 sacks and 127 pressures over the past two years alone. Latu’s career college analytics strengths: Rank among EDGE prospects since 2016. Pass-rush grade 93.8 98th percentile. Pressure rate 19.4% 95th percentile. Quick pressure rate 14.7% 96th percentile. Win rate 20.8% 91st percentile. Latu’s career PFF run-defense grade has sat among the 54th percentile of edge prospects since 2016, however, his most recent season was a significant improvement on what he had delivered in the past, posting an 82.1 PFF run-defense grade as his career high, which is in the 70th percentile for these prospects. Everything in Latu’s data suggests that he should be a potential top 10-12 pick in the NFL draft when compared to others who scored similarly. Only Montez Sweat (26th overall) wasn’t a top-10 pick among the 10 highest-scoring edge prospects in this model, which is where Latu ranks. Latu’s college analytics weaknesses: Rank among EDGE prospects since 2016 - Run defense grade 77.1 54th percentile) (3-20-24): https://www.pff.com/news/fantasy-football-analytical-spotlight-on-the-top-2024-rookie-edge-defenders
2024 NFL Draft edge rusher rankings: 4 potential stars lead our top 10 (1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA — 6-foot-5, 259 pounds, Redshirt Senior. Overview: Prospects don't come much more celebrated than UCLA's Latu, who led the PAC-12 in sacks (13), tackles for loss (21.5) and forced fumbles (two) in 2023. For his success, Latu was honored with the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end, the Vince Lombardi Award as the nation's top defensive lineman, the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Polynesian Defensive Player of the Year. His success and resiliency are all the more remarkable given that he initially signed with the University of Washington, where two years ago team doctors told him they thought his football career was over due to a neck injury. Strengths - Naturally large man with excellent height and weight for the position, including broad shoulders and good arm length. Quick enough off the snap to challenge offensive tackles immediately. He also greases the corner with acceleration and core flexibility. Already boasts an NFL veteran's assortment of quality pass rush moves.
Has strong, active hands and coordinates them well with his feet, solving troublesome blockers over 60 minutes. Highly consistent — played in 12 games for the Bruins this season and recorded at least one sack, tackle for loss or interception in every single one of them. Concerns - A medical evaluation will be key, as a neck injury nearly forced him to retire from football in April, 2021. More smooth than explosive, lacking the elite get-off burst of most top edge rushers. Good but not great speed in pursuit. Lacks the eye-popping musculature of other edge rushers, raising concerns for some about his dedication to the weight room (notably didn't bench press at the combine or his Pro Day). Summary: From a pure football perspective, Laiatu is the most productive and polished edge rusher in this class, with Defensive Rookie of the Year and eventual Pro Bowl upside. His 2023 campaign was stellar but he was similarly productive with the Bruins in 2022 He isn't without flaws, however. Most important to remember is that every NFL team will have their own opinion on his medical, making Latu one of the real wild cards of the first round. Grade: Top 20) (3-20-24): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-edge-rusher-rankings-4-potential-stars-lead-our-top-10
2024 NFL Draft Stock – Post-Combine II (Down - Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA: In following up with some team sources, they said the medical concerns are an issue that has made Latu’s draft range very fluid. Multiple team sources shared that they thought it’s possible that Latu will slip to Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft because of the medical questions. At Washington, a neck injury cost Latu the 2020 and 2021 seasons that caused the program to encourage Latu to retire. Latu entered the transfer portal and ended up landing at UCLA, which gave him medical clearance to continue playing. Team sources from around the NFL said that, on tape, Latu did a nice job of compensating for his issues by using his shoulder and chest while tackling to help protect his neck and head. Sources noted that if Latu starts sliding, it could cause other teams that did not rule him out medically to be concerned that other teams did disqualify him. Those sources said they thought Latu has the potential to slide to the second round, like other recent draft prospects with medical concerns such as Myles Jack, Jawann Taylor, Jaylon Smith and Da’Quan Bowers.) (3-19-24): https://walterfootball.com/draft2024stock_28.php
2024 NFL Draft: 5 most pro-ready NFL prospects (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA: Latu is going to divide opinion in draft circles. He won’t be the most athletic or physically imposing edge rusher in the draft, but he more than makes up for that with some of the best technique at the position to enter the draft in years. Latu’s hand use and tool kit of pass-rushing moves is incredible and puts him light years ahead of most of his peers when it comes to his potential to make an instant impact. Other edge rushers will be drafted with a vision of what they could become once they add a couple of moves to their repertoire, but Latu already has an entire suite of pass-rushing moves that give him an incredibly varied list of ways to win right out of the box. Much of the analysis surrounding Latu will be related to his medicals, but if he clears those from a team perspective, he should be one of the most coveted edge rushers available. His pass-rush win rate last season was an outstanding 26.2% and his PFF pass-rushing grade was 94.3, which stacks him up well with the best edge rushers we have seen enter the league over the last decade.) (3-19-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-5-most-pro-ready-nfl-prospects
UCLA DE Laiatu Latu’s journey from medically retired to first-round prospect (3-18-24): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/ucla-de-laiatu-latus-journey-from-medically-retired-to-first-round-prospect
NFL Hot Press: Medical Concerns with Laiatu Latu (3-15-24): https://walterfootball.com/NFLHotPress
2024 NFL Draft: Ranking every position group and how they could impact future decisions in free agency (8. Edge rusher - Signees in our top 100 free agents: 12. Even with 12 edge rushers signed in free agency from our top 100, there are still some sizable names on the market like Chase Young and Jadeveon Clowney. Of course, this is a marquee position, and money will always be lucrative for outside pass rushers. For as much as I initially liked this draft class, it lacks a quality second and third tier. We'll see Alabama's Dallas Turner, Florida State's Jared Verse, and likely Penn State's Chop Robinson -- along with UCLA's Laiatu Latu -- in the first round. And they all deserve to be first rounders. After that? There's slim-pickings on Day 2, although two smaller but explosive and refined perimeter rushers I like are UCLA's Gabriel Murphy and Colorado's Mo Kamara. Actually, Alabama's other defensive end, Chris Braswell, also brings it with tentacles for arms and surprising power. There are usually four or five more mid-to-late round rushers I'm in on. Not this year.) (3-15-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-ranking-every-position-group-and-how-they-could-impact-future-decisions-in-free-agency/
Notes from 2024 UCLA and Penn State Pro Days: Edge rushers shine as Laiatu Latu leads the way (Edge rusher Laiatu Latu wasn’t expecting to do much. Rather, he intended to rest following his terrific performance from the Combine.Yet when the workout began, Latu had a change of heart. Realizing that many of the scouts on hand came to see him, he took over the event. I’m told Latu looked great in drills, easily moving around the field and displaying a lot of quickness.He was run almost solely through pass rushing drills and didn’t do many drops or coverage drills.The New England Patriots met with Latu, as did the Miami Dolphins, who have shown a lot of interest in the pass rusher. While pass rusher is not the most pressing need for Miami, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are both rehabbing from major lower leg injuries sustained during the second half of last season.Couple that with the likelihood center Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon will be off the board when the Dolphins are called to the clock, and Latu is a distinct possibility.) (3-15-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-notes-2024-ucla-penn-state-pro-days-edge-rushers-shine-laiatu-latu-leads-way
2024 NFL Draft: Performance grades for the top 20 prospects on PFF's big board (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA - PFF Grade: 96.3. Latu‘s biggest concern is his medical history due to a serious neck injury in his past. If his medicals check out though, his production is good enough to warrant being drafted as high as in the top-10. He won 26.2% of his pass-rush reps in 2023 and earned a 94.5 PFF pass-rushing grade versus true pass sets.) (3-6-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-performance-grades-for-the-top-20-prospects-on-pffs-big-board
Top EDGEs in the 2024 NFL Draft: Ranking Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, and Others (4. Laiatu Latu, UCLA: No 2024 NFL Draft EDGE prospect was more productive over the past two seasons combined than UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. Latu had 10.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs in an eye-catching 2022 campaign. Then, in 2023, he upped the ante with 13 sacks and 21.5 TFLs. If production is any indication, Latu should be in the early-to-mid Round 1 conversation. At 6’5″, 260 pounds, he checks the size box, and he’s also an impressively flexible mover who can pry past blocks with ankle flexion, brisk agility, speed, and savvy weight distribution. As long as Latu’s medical history doesn’t come back to bite him, he’s an absolute pass-rushing technician whose reliability and proactivity on the attack are matched by few.) (3-6-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/top-edges-nfl-draft-2024/
Combine performances that should not impact draft stock (EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA: It has been suggested by some that Latu had a bad workout, but that is only relative to a few of his peers. Latu is a technically sound pass-rusher who has multiple ways to win once engaged. A 4.64-second 40-yard dash is a good time at 259 pounds, and although his jumps did not surpass any historic benchmarks, it was enough to validate his on-field performance.) (3-6-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-why-combine-performances-of-bo-nix-keon-coleman-and-others-should-not-impact-draft-stock/
2024 All-Combine Team, Defense: Edge Jared Verse, CB Terrion Arnold among standouts in Indianapolis (Laiatu Latu - Best team fits: Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills. Latu didn't test quite as well as some of the others who made this team, but he flashed plenty in the drills. He's long, smooth and looks the part of a future pass-rushing problem for NFL tackles. His lateral movements produced a tracing line about as flat as you'll ever see in Indianapolis, and he rarely slipped out of control, no matter what the drills asked of him. Teams scouring his medical evaluation will likely weigh his past neck injury, but based on his prolific UCLA tenure and what he produced Thursday, he could come off the board quite early in April's draft.) (3-4-24): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-all-combine-team-defense-edge-jared-verse-cb-terrion-arnold-among-standouts-in-indianapolis
5 winners (Caleb Williams!) and losers (pass rush-needy teams) from the 2024 NFL combine (UCLA’s Laitu Latu history of injuries (and subsequent medicals) may scare many teams even after quality testing. Penn State’s Chop Robinson has tantalizing athleticism and quickness, but there still needs to be proof in the pudding. And then we start talking more about projects and lower-floor players who can contribute. This is a top-heavy edge class that will rely on a lot of deeper scouting and wish casting through and through. Put another way: It’s a bad year to need a star pass rusher through the draft. The pass-rush depth down the draft board did not show out in their first real opportunity to make an impression.) (3-4-24): https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-combine-winners-losers-caleb-williams-joe-alt-dallas-turner-chargers
NFL Hot Press: Survey Shows Majority of Teams Rate Latu Ahead of Verse (3-3-24): https://walterfootball.com/nfl-hot-press-survey-shows-majority-of-teams-rate-latu-ahead-of-verse.php
NFL Combine 2024 winners & losers: Michael Penix, Xavier Worthy among those who impressed (Chop Robinson and Laiatu Latu - Robinson put together a great all-around performance at the 2024 NFL Combine. He ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash among edge rushers (4.48 seconds) and looked excellent during the on-field drills. Robinson showed particularly well in the hoops drill, which is designed to measure how well pass rushers can bend and change direction to get by offensive tackles. He demonstrated great body control and made a near-perfect figure-8 while running the drill. Latu had similar success in the on-field drills, looking poised, polished and smooth across all of them. He wasn't quite as fast as Robinson — Latu logged a 4.64-second 40-yard dash — but like the Penn State product, Latu was excellent in the hoops drill and showed fluid movement skills when performing the four-bag drills.Latu also demonstrated great character and stayed past his session at the NFL Combine to cheer on his teammates and counterparts participating in the linebacker drills. That will endear him to talent evaluators trying to break ties between himself, Jared Verse and Robinson in the middle portion of the first round. Both Robinson and Latu established that they should be first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have the athleticism and technique needed to thrive early during their NFL careers, and that was on display during their workouts on Thursday.) (3-2-24): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-combine-2024-winners-losers-michael-penix-xavier-worthy/9a63b978852faf8bad25e722
TWENTYMAN: Combine Day 3 observations (Rooting for Latu: How can people not root for a guy like UCLA's Laiatu Latu in this process? Latu was medically retired from football at Washington after a preseason neck injury in 2020. He worked hard to get back and became one of college football's top pass rushers the past two seasons at UCLA. He is a likely first-round draft pick. He had a great workout Thursday. He measured in at 6-foot-5, 259 pounds, ran the 40 in 4.64 seconds, and looked fluid and smooth in field drills. He had 34 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks the last two seasons at UCLA.) (3-1-24): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-combine-day-3-observations-mccarthy-turner-williams
2024 NFL Combine: UCLA's Laiatu Latu showing he's worth the risk after overcoming career-threatening injury (3-1-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-combine-uclas-laiatu-latu-showing-hes-worth-the-risk-after-overcoming-career-threatening-injury/
Laiatu Latu, once medically retired from football, now might be NFL draft's best defender (2-29-24): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2024/02/29/laiatu-latu-nfl-draft-2024-defensive-end-ucla/72785116007/
2024 NFL Combine schedule, live updates, NFL highlights, 40-yard dash times, player measurements and more (UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu disappoints. Our No. 12 overall prospect entering the combine didn't totally flop his workout, but he wasn't very close to Robinson and Turner, two of his fiercest competitors to be the first edge rusher off the board. At nearly 6-foot-4 and 259 pounds, Latu had a decent 40-yard dash of 4.64 seconds, but the jumps hinted at less explosive traits. His vertical was 32 inches and his broad was 9-foot-8) (2-29-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-combine-schedule-live-updates-nfl-highlights-40-yard-dash-times-player-measurements-and-more/live/
Grades from Day 1, plus winners/losers (EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA: B+. Latu is a technically sound prospect, and his athletic testing should answer any remaining questions teams had for him. His grade is a little lower relative to the other sensational figures tabulated by the likes of Turner, Robinson and Verse, but no one should be discrediting Latu's performance. He is a personable prospect who showed his spirit by supporting the other participants even when his workout had finished.) (2-29-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-combine-takeaways-grades-for-top-edge-dl-and-lb-prospects-plus-other-winners-and-losers/
NFL Combine results: 10 standouts from the edge rusher group (Laiatu Latu, UCLA (6-foot-5, 259 pounds)
Latu was smooth all day and looked confident he could attack each drill with his athleticism. His measurables were solid for his size, but it was his on-field work that should keep his stock in the first round. Of course, the biggest bit of information on Latu will be his medical checks, which we won’t be privy to.) (2-29-24): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/3/1/24087136/nfl-combine-results-10-standouts-edge-rusher-group
2024 NFL Draft: 7 things PFF analysts want to see at the NFL Scouting Combine (AUSTIN SCOTT: HOW MANY EDGE DEFENDERS CAN SNEAK INTO THE FIRST ROUND? The 2024 class of edge defender prospects still has a lot to get sorted out from top to bottom, and this week could go a long way in clarifying those final tiers and determining how many can sneak into the first round. Dallas Turner, Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu feel like a clear top three, and Latu may very well be the most technically sound edge rusher in the class, but there are concerns that average or poor athletic testing at the Combine may push him to the middle or bottom of the first round. Chris Braswell and Chop Robinson are a bit more raw from a technique standpoint but could get that bump into the top 25-30 prospects based on strong weigh-ins and interviews on top of what we assume will be impressive showings in explosiveness and agility drills.) (2-29-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-7-things-pff-analysts-want-to-see-nfl-scouting-combine
NFL Hot Press: Teams Could Move up for Edge Rushers (Right now though, only Turner, Latu and Verse are viewed as definite first-rounders. Outside of the top 10, there could be a lot of playoff teams that are looking to add edge-rush help. The Rams, Dolphins, Eagles, Texans, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Lions, Ravens and 49ers could all be in the market for an edge rusher. Thus, teams picking in the teens and 20s are potentially in a good position to move down if another team wants to move up for Latu or Verse. In my latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, I have both Latu and Verse going to playoff teams. But multiple sources said they feel teams could aggressively move up to select an edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft.) (2-28-24): https://walterfootball.com/nfl-hot-press-teams-could-move-up-for-edge-rushers.php
What We Learned from DL/LB pressers (2. From rushing passers to fighting fires? UCLA's Laiatu Latu arrives at the combine after being told he would no longer be able to play football just a few years ago. He missed the 2020 season with the Washington Huskies due to a neck injury and did not play in 2021 after UW doctors would not clear him because of the issue. Latu did, however, receive clearance to play from Dr. Robert Watkins, who treated Peyton Manning's neck injury almost a decade earlier. The edge rusher transferred to UCLA and was a first-team All-Pac-12 pick in each of the last two seasons. He enters this week's events as NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's No. 20 overall prospect, and discussed his ability to overcome the adversity stemming from his neck injury during his Wednesday press conference. "Really, it was just, being told you're never going to be able to play football again -- I never let it get the best of me," he said. "I continued to work out, continued to get stronger, continued to work on my pass-rush moves and stuff like that. Really just locked in and never gave up on my dreams. I had dreams of being in this moment, being in the NFL since I was a kid and I never gave up on that." He does have a plan, though, for whenever his football career comes to an end. "If football didn't work out, especially after all this, I'd love to go into firefighting and work my way up to chief," Latu said. Latu is already doing firefighter workouts, he said, which includes wearing a weighted vest during stair climbs. -- Dan Parr) (2-28-24): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-scouting-combine-what-we-learned-during-wednesday-s-activities-in-indianapolis
2024 NFL Scouting Combine: One prospect at every position with the most to gain (EDGE DEFENDER: LAIATU LATU, UCLA - Medicals will be key for Latu, who suffered a serious neck injury in college. His production in 2023 was almost unmatched, though, as he earned a 96.3 PFF grade in his final season at UCLA. If teams can be comfortable with where he is medically, they will feel much better spending a top-15 pick on him.) (2-27-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-scouting-combine-one-prospect-at-every-position-with-the-most-to-gain
NFL Draft: Top 5 prospects at each defensive position (3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu has a lot of pass-rush moves in his bag and, at this point, there is no reason to believe he will not pass a medical check despite his past.) (2-26-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-combine-ranking-the-top-5-nfl-draft-prospects-at-every-defensive-position/
NFL Combine preview: 10 edge rushers the Lions should watch (Laiatu Latu, UCLA (6-foot-5, 261 pounds): This draft class lacks an elite pass rusher but it does have very solid depth throughout the projected top-100 prospects. Dallas Turner (Alabama) and Jared Verse (Florida State) are typically projected to be the first two edge players drafted, but from a talent perspective, Latu is on par with them—his 26.2% pass rush win rate from PFF was the best in college football. Latu still gets mocked to the Lions at the end of the first round because of potential concerns surrounding a neck injury that forced him to medically retire while at the University of Washington. After taking some time to heal, UCLA cleared him and he played there two seasons without issue. Still, his Combine medical checks figure to be the most important part of his time in Indianapolis.) (2-26-24): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/2/26/24082612/2024-nfl-combine-preview-10-edge-rushers-detroit-lions-prospects
2024 NFL Combine notes: 10 players who will need to boost their draft stock feat. Michael Penix Jr. (6. Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA: Latu is another player medical staffs will examine with a fine-tooth comb. Early in his college career, he was medically retired from playing by the Washington Huskies, who claimed that Latu risked being paralyzed if he continued to play due to a neck injury.Latu promptly transferred to UCLA and totaled 23.5 sacks and 34 TFLs during his two-year stint with the program. Despite his playmaking ability, the results of medical exams on his neck will be the biggest factor on where he ends up in the draft.) (2-26-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/2024-nfl-combine-notes-10-players-will-need-boost-draft-stock-feat-michael-penix-jr
15 players who can improve draft stock at NFL Combine (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Spielman feels that Latu is the best EDGE rusher in the draft as far as using his hands. His medical records are going to be critical as far as where he is drafted. Latu racked up 23.5 sacks during in two years at UCLA.) (2-25-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-combine-15-prospects-who-can-improve-their-stock-ahead-of-the-draft/
2024 NFL Draft: Laiatu Latu thumbnail scouting report (2-23-24): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2024/02/23/2024-nfl-draft-laiatu-latu-ucla-scouting-report/
2024 NFL Draft: Jayden Daniels, Rome Odunze lead 5 prospects to watch on Day 1 (Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA: Finding pass rushers with elite first-step quickness and polished hand skills is challenging. That's why evaluators are smitten with the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder with exceptional snap-count anticipation and get-off quickness. As a dynamic pass rusher with the capacity to attack from a hand-down or standup position, Latu is a scheme-friendly fit as an edge defender. He routinely whips blockers utilizing a wide array of speed rushes and finesse maneuvers that showcase his spectacular pass-rush skills. Though he primarily wins with speed, his relentless effort and non-stop pursuit make him a nightmare to face in obvious pass-rush situations. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.] Given how elite pass rushers are expected to close out games with strip sacks or big hits, Latu's knack for getting to the quarterback makes him an intriguing option as a "DPR" (designated pass rusher) with blue-chip traits as an edge defender. With 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss, Latu is the disruptive defender every team seeks on Day 1.) (2-22-24): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-jayden-daniels-rome-odunze-lead-5-prospects-to-watch-on-day-1
Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison headline RJ Young's top 10 NFL Draft prospects (7. UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu - 2023 stats: 13.0 sacks, 49.0 combined tackles, two interceptions. RJ's take: "Lot of teams could use his particular skill set. If you see that the man can absolutely line up against a tight end and maybe hold his own, that's easy money there because he does everything else you want an outside linebacker/defensive end-type to do, he puts people on the ground, he wreaks havoc in the backfield. It's just can he run with that tight end for that comeback?") (2-21-24): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/caleb-williams-marvin-harrison-headline-rj-youngs-top-10-nfl-draft-prospects
2024 Combine preview: Edge rusher (2. Laiatu Latu, UCLA, 6-4, 265: Latu has a great combination of size and quickness with a full toolbox of pass-rush moves. He might be the most technically sound pass rusher in the class and is a very advanced pass rusher for his age. The medicals will be important for him after dealing with a neck injury while at Washington a few years back. Latu had 13.0 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss for the Bruins this past season.) (2-21-24): https://www.detroitlions.com/news/2024-combine-preview-edge-rusher-turner-latu-verse
NFL combine primer: Position-by-position summaries, players to watch ahead of big week in Indianapolis (Laiatu Latu (UCLA), Austin Booker (Kansas). Teams will key on Latu’s medicals and also his testing numbers. He was productive in college and wins with quickness, supreme hand usage and technique, but is more of a solid athlete than an excellent one. He could jockey to be the first edge defender off the board if he tests well. Booker, meanwhile, won Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in his lone season in Lawrence, and has length and flashes burst, bend and quickness to go with his tangible production. He is still a work in progress, but he could leap up boards with a strong week of testing, especially with this draft lacking players of Booker’s archetype.) (2-21-24): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-combine-primer-jj-mccarthy-caleb-williams-drake-maye-players-to-watch-indianapolis-015657583.html
6 Edge Rushers Lions Should Watch at NFL Combine (Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu is one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire Draft. He was once medically retired while at Washington, but entered the transfer portal and resumed his career at UCLA. In two seasons with the Bruins, Latu put up dominant numbers. He has a vast array of pass-rush moves that allow him to combat a variety of styles from opposing tackles and was a tough assignment at the college level. With 24 sacks at the college level, there's proven ability. The major concern with Latu will be his medicals, and the Combine should provide some clarity as to where he stands in that area. If he clears all the physicals, he could be one of the first defenders taken in the Draft.) (2-20-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/edge-rushers-lions-watch-nfl-combine
Is Laiatu Latu Lions' EDGE of Future? (2-17-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/is-laiatu-latu-lions-edge-of-future
2024 NFL Draft Edge Rushers top 5 rankings 1.0 (1. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: This long-tenured Bruin has been one of the most productive edge rushers in college football during his last two seasons with the team. Even with as much pedigree as he has there is still a high ceiling for Laiatu Latu whose skillset and numbers will translate at the next level. Latu is an explosive and relentless rusher who gives offensive linemen fits from the jump of the snap. His athleticism, pass-rushing toolbox, and experience jump him to the top of this class and for good reason.) (2-12-24): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-mock-draft-rankings-jared-verse-dallas-turner/
Roundtable: Lions' Draft Crushes (1. Who is your early draft crush for the Lions? Christian Booher: I have two prospects that have caught my eye early in the draft process, when it comes to potential fit with the Detroit Lions. The first is Arkansas offensive lineman Beaux Limmer, while the second is UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. With Limmer, there is a lot of versatility, with regards to the positions he can play. He played both guard spots, and potentially can line up at center. That flexibility is an appealing quality, and with both of Detroit’s starting guards set to be free agents, there is a natural fit. As for Latu, he has the deepest bag of pass-rush moves of any prospect, in my opinion. He dominated at UCLA, and has the ability to win with his hands and bend around the edge. The biggest concern with him is his medicals, and if he passes his checks, he likely won’t be available by the time Detroit is on the clock at No. 29 overall) (2-11-25): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/roundtable-lions-2024-draft-crushes
What’s being said about potential Detroit Lions fits after the Senior Bowl (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Laiatu Latu had to pull out of the week after having leg soreness following the second day of practice. But in those two showings he was touted for showing his speed and agility to get around the corner on pass-rushing reps. “Spending an afternoon watching Latu’s pass-rush film was the highlight of January for me. Some might say I don’t have much of a life. Maybe you don’t like elite pass-rush talent like I do. Latu showed on tape that he has a variety of go-to moves and counters he can use to beat opponents, and we saw the exact same thing from him at practice on Tuesday.” -- NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)) (2-5-24): https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/02/whats-being-said-about-potential-detroit-lions-fits-after-the-senior-bowl.html
What We Learned at the 2024 Senior Bowl: QB Questions Are Legit (3. There are plenty of intriguing defensive linemen: One of the most enjoyable individual drills to watch is one-on-ones in the trenches. But the better gauge for talent is in the team periods, where we saw some of the big bodies showing out. Among them were Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who I wrote extensively about Wednesday. While Hall is more of an intriguing projection, Latu is arguably the best player here, seen as a consensus first-round pick after dominating with the Bruins over the past two years. Between his frame and array of pass-rushing moves, it’s easy to see why.) (2-1-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/02/01/senior-bowl-bowers-penix-nix-draft-qb
2024 Senior Bowl: Thursday’s National Team Practice Report (UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu had an excellent practice on Wednesday, but he was out of the lineup on Thursday with an injury. Latu had his left leg wrapped and was observing practice. Latu was walking around and speaking with teammates, so it did not appear to be a serious injury. Latu’s performance in the previous practices should help him to go as a top-20 pick this coming April in the 2024 NFL Draft.) (2-1-24): https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2024practice5.php
2024 Senior Bowl Recap, Day 2: Standouts, draft risers and more (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA: Latu's elite hand usage and pass-rush pedigree are standing out. Those two categories allowed him to be the most productive pass rusher in the country over the past two years, as he earned pass-rush grades above 91.0 in each of those campaigns. In the clip below, he displays his toolbox of pass-rush moves and counters. Most impressive of all, he has the fast reaction speed to still beat his man in time for a sack even if the first move fails. He might be a little physically limited, but he brings first-round production.) (2-1-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-senior-bowl-recap-day-2-standouts-draft-risers
2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Insider notes on Laiatu Latu’s first-round potential, Michael Hall Jr.’s draft stock push (1. Laiatu Latu/Edge/UCLA:After a non-descript initial practice on Day 1, Latu exerted his will on opponents Wednesday. He looked like his usual athletic self, yet Latu added a bit of power and explosion in pass-rushing drills and beat offensive tackles with great hand technique and agility.Latu did his damage out of a three-point stance as well as standing over tackle and looked like the mid-first-round pick NFL teams predict he will be.) (1-31-24): https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-2024-nfl-draft-prospects-insider-notes-laiatu-latu-s-first-round-potential-michael-hall-jr-s-draft-stock-push
2024 Senior Bowl: Quarterbacks Falling, Defensive Linemen Rising in Mobile (UCLA, Ohio State showing their strength in the trenches - UCLA's Laiatu Latu goes through Senior Bowl workouts in Mobile, Alabama.
Latu has been dominant the past two years for the Bruins after transferring from Washington State. While the storylines typically revolve around the offense skill players, don’t sleep on a few defensive studs showing off their talents. On Wednesday, it was impossible to miss UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who measured 6'4" and 261 pounds, and was consistently getting around the opposing tackle in team drills. In one three-play stretch, Latu ran the arc with good bend, swiping the right tackle’s hands off his frame to make the would-be sack. The next play, Latu used a power move in an attempt to collapse the pocket. Then, on the third snap, Latu was chipped by the tight end, looped inside over the guard and got another pressure to impact the throw. A projected first-round pick, Latu has been dominant the past two years for the Bruins after transferring from Washington State. He had 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss, while also adding two interceptions.) (1-31-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/31/2024-senior-bowl-quarterbacks-falling-oregon-bo-nix-washington-michael-penix-jr
2024 Senior Bowl: Wednesday’s National Team Practice Report (Assuming his medical evaluation checks out okay, UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu should be one of the earliest picked players from the 2024 Senior Bowl teams in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Latu showed why on Wednesday. Tuesday was a quality start to the week, but he was even better in the fully padded practice. Latu had some nice wins with speed rushes in the one-on-one session, but he was fantastic in the team portion, recording multiple sacks. The first one came with a speed rush around the right side to close on the quarterback quickly. On the next play, Latu roasted the guard on a stunt to the inside before collapsing the pocket in a hurry. Latu has quality size, athleticism and quickness, but what really makes him special are his instincts, motor, and hand usagee. His performance on Wednesday gave proof of his dangerous edge-rush ability for the NFL.) (1-31-25): https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2024practice3.php
2024 Senior Bowl Day 1 standouts: WRs Ladd McConkey, Roman Wilson separating from pack (Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA: Spending an afternoon watching Latu's pass-rush film was the highlight of January for me. Some might say I don't have much of a life. Maybe you don't like elite pass-rush talent like I do. Latu showed on tape that he has a variety of go-to moves and counters he can use to beat opponents, and we saw the exact same thing from him at practice on Tuesday. He looked controlled but instinctive throughout his rush reps. He still has some work to do as a run defender, and Latu's biggest hurdle pre-draft will be the medical evaluations, as he did have a serious neck injury during his time at Washington. But Latu is priming his draft slotting by reinforcing what he put on tape for the last two seasons at UCLA. -- Lance Zierlein) (1-30-24): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-senior-bowl-day-1-standouts-wrs-ladd-mcconkey-roman-wilson-separating-from-pack
2024 Senior Bowl: Tuesday’s National Team Practice Report (To close practice, there were some interesting one-on-one reps between two future pro starters in UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu and BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia. On the first rep, Suamataia held up Latu on a speed rush and kept him away from the quarterback. The next rep saw Latu destroy Suamataia via a swim move to the inside. Latu looks like a safe first-round pick for the 2024 NFL Draft after back-to-back seasons of productivley hunting quarterbacks. Suamataia needs to interview well with teams, as they have concerns about his work ethic and makeup.) (1-30-24): https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2024practice.php
2024 Senior Bowl Preview: One player to watch at each position, including Oregon QB Bo Nix (EDGE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA - PFF Big Board Rank: 18. There are a lot of good edge rushers to watch this week in Senior Bowl practices, but Latu gets our vote because a good week for him could make him the first edge rusher taken, potentially in the top 10. He has been the most productive pass rusher in the country, with back-to-back elite pass-rush grades and a cumulative pass-rush win rate above 23% from 2022-2023. However, his 32.5-inch arms place him in just the 13th percentile of edge rushers in the NFL. That didn’t matter when getting into the backfield at UCLA, though. If he continues to prove that’s not an issue in Mobile, it will be hard to ignore his production.) (1-30-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-senior-bowl-preview-one-player-to-watch-each-position-regon-qb-bo-nix
2024 NFL Draft: 5 biggest storylines ahead of the Senior Bowl | NFL Draft
With Senior Bowl week kicking off, Max Chadwick discusses the biggest NFL draft storylines (WHO ARE THE TOP PROSPECTS IN ATTENDANCE? There are eight prospects at the Senior Bowl who are currently ranked in the top 32 of our draft board. UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu (No. 18) is coming off the highest-graded season we’ve ever seen by an FBS player (96.3). ) (1-30-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-5-biggest-storylines-ahead-of-the-senior-bowl
Eight players to watch at the Reese's Senior Bowl (NATIONAL | UCLA edge Laiatu Latu - The highest-profile edge-rusher at the Senior Bowl, Latu is a near-lock to be a first-round pick and could be selected in the top half of the draft. Per Pro Football Focus, he had the highest pressure win rate (26.2 percent) among edge defenders with at least 267 pass-rush opportunities in 2023.) (1-29-24): https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/eight_players_to_watch_at_the_reeses_senior_bowl/s1_13132_39888449
Detroit Lions prospects to watch at 2024 Senior Bowl (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: After nearly ending his career due to injury, Latu has enjoyed a superb two-year revival with UCLA. This season, he was among the best EDGE rushers in all of college football with 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. His skill set and the positional demand of EDGE rushers likely mean he will be off the board before Detroit is on the clock, assuming his medicals check out. However, Holmes has never been afraid to move up to get a player he likes. The injury history is also concerning with Latu, so his physical evaluations are worth monitoring.) (1-29-24): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/senior-bowl-prospects-interest-lions
2024 Senior Bowl primer: Penix, Nix, more storylines (UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu is CBSSports.com's top rated prospect in this week's game. After registering 10+ sacks for the second consecutive season, Latu arrives in Mobile as a potential Top-10 overall selection.) (1-29-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-senior-bowl-how-to-watch-time-tv-top-storylines-for-nfl-draft-event-featuring-michael-penix-jr-more/
Top EDGE Prospects at the 2024 Senior Bowl: Laiatu Latu, Chris Braswell Lead the Pack (1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA: If not for injuries, Laiau Latu would likely be considered the best edge rusher in this class. The impactful outside linebacker suffered neck/spinal cord numbness while at the University of Washington, which wasn’t fixed by surgery. Medical professionals said Latu continuing to play would risk paralyzation, forcing Washington to medically retire him from the game. Latu then entered the transfer portal in 2022 and moved to the UCLA Bruins. With different doctors, they were happy for him to play football and provided advice on how to mitigate any further potential injuries. Latu has recorded 85 total tackles, 23.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles since arriving at UCLA. In 2023, he won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and is expected to go in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Medical checks and interviews at events such as the Senior Bowl could prove crucial to his chances of attaining that standing come April.): (1-29-24): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/top-edge-prospects-senior-bowl-draft-2024/
2024 Senior Bowl Preview: Defensive Line (Top Prospects - Laiatu Latu: Latu has an argument for being the best EDGE in the class and should be a high first-round selection. He has the deepest bag of tricks in his pass-rush arsenal and the power to back it up. The former Bruin posted 13 sacks, which led the team in 2023, an improvement on a stellar junior season. He also produced a whopping 21.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Well coached in the art of pass rush skillsets, it would be a shock if he didn’t do well in Mobile. PFF graded him as the top EDGE with an overall score of 96.3. He also had the top grade for pass rush and coverage by some margin.) (1-27-24): https://nfldraftdiamonds.com/2024/01/2024-senior-bowl-preview-defensive-line/
Senior Bowl 2024 EDGE Primer: What You Need To Know (Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu is as refined a pass rusher as you’ll find in the last few draft classes. An absolute technician with his hands, Latu can beat tackles in a laundry list of ways, and, if a rep is lost, will immediately find ways to present new looks.) (1-25-24): https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/01/25/senior-bowl-2024-edge
Draft prospects conference title game teams could use (Detroit Lions - Prospect: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu. Aidan Hutchinson enters the NFC title game with 118 pressures. 118! Holy moly. And he's done it on 686 pass-rushing snaps. Insane efficiency at that volume. Guess who's second on the team in pressures? Nose tackle Alim McNeill (!) with 40, and he missed time late in the season with an injury. So, yeah, for this exercise I'm sending a premier edge rusher to the Lions, who just so happens to be rather tall on the outside like Hutchinson. Also comparable to Hutchinson, the UCLA star is a squeaky clean from a technique angle. All the pass-rush moves are there, and he loves the swim. Effective with it too. For evidence -- Latu finished fifth in the country in pressures in 2023 and tied Will Anderson Jr. for fourth in 2022. If the Lions had another formidable perimeter rusher, it'd be a massive boost to the club's chances against the 49ers on Sunday. (1-25-24): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-one-prospect-who-would-help-each-team-in-the-afc-and-nfc-conference-championships/
2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Edge defenders (3. EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA BIG BOARD RANK: 18. Latu has the best pass-rush profile of any edge rusher in the 2024 class. His hand usage, reaction time and first-step athleticism are first-round caliber in all categories.) (1-16-24): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-position-rankings-edge-defenders
2024 NFL draft: Bowl season EDGE big board (1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA: What stands out: His medicals will be huge, but Latu’s strength and burst through contact are exceptional) (12-22-23): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-draft-bowl-season-edge-big-board/
LA Bowl Prospect Preview: Laiatu Latu Skips To Start Draft Prep, Leaving Murphy Brothers in Spotlight (Laiatu Latu, EDGE: Latu, the 6’5″, 260-pound edge-rushing savant who accumulated 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2023, will not suit up with the Bruins for the LA Bowl. Instead, he’s declared for the 2024 NFL Draft and gets a head start on his draft prep. Latu has a Senior Bowl showing on deck, and with his ruthless pass-rush ability and high-level hand usage, he’s viewed as a likely Round 1 pick. His absence will hurt, but UCLA has talent at the position behind him.) (12-16-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/la-bowl-draft-prospect-preview/
2024 NFL Draft: My college football All-Senior Teams (Laiatu Latu, UCLA (6-5, 265)*: Latu began his career at Washington, but suffered a neck injury that kept him off the field in 2020 and 2021. He's been a force since UCLA team doctors gave him clearance to play, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors the past two seasons and ranking in the top 10 nationally in sacks both years (tied for eighth with 10.5 in 2022, tied for third with 13 after the 2023 regular season). The 2023 AP first-team All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year leads the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss, as well, using his combination of strength and quickness to attack runs and quick passes on the edge.) (12-15-23): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-my-college-football-all-senior-teams
Sportskeeda's 2023 All-American College Football Team ft. Jayden Daniels (Laiatu Latu/UCLALatu, a medical reject who was forced to transfer to UCLA from Washington, was handed the Lombardi Award after his career season. He led the nation with 21.5 tackles for loss and added 13 sacks to his resume this season.) (12-12-23): https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-sportskeeda-s-2023-all-american-college-football-team-ft-jayden-daniels
2023 College Football All-Pac-12 Team: Oregon QB Bo Nix, UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu and more (EDGE: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins. DEFENSIVE PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and was the highest-graded player in college football this season (95.3). His 21.9% pressure rate led all FBS edge defenders, and his 24.2% pass-rush win rate paced the Power Five at the position.h) (12-10-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-all-pac-12-team-oregon-bo-nix-ucla-laiatu-latu
2023 PFF College Football Awards: LSU's Jayden Daniels claims the Heisman Trophy (Chuck Bednarik Award/Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player) - WINNER: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS: Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and was the highest-graded player in college football this season (95.3). His 21.9% pressure rate led all FBS edge defenders, and his 24.2% pass-rush win rate led the Power Five at the position. Rotary Lombardi Award (Best Lineman) - WINNER: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS. Ted Hendricks Award (Best Defensive End) - WINNER: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS) (12-6-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-pff-college-football-awards-lsu-jayden-daniels-heisman-trophy
2023 PFF College All-America Team: LSU QB Jayden Daniels, Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and more (EDGE DEFENDER: LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS - Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire due to a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and was the highest-graded player in college football this season (95.3). His 21.9% pressure rate led all FBS edge defenders while his 24.2% pass-rush win rate led all Power Five ones.) (12-5-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-pff-college-all-america-team-lsu-qb-jayden-daniels-ohio-state-wr-marvin-harrison-jr-and-more
2024 NFL Draft: Top 20 Senior Bowl prospects of the 2023 college football regular season (2. Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA (6-5, 265): The Bruins defender leads the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss and is tied for third in the FBS with 13 sacks. His combination of size and quickness allows coaches to line him up in multiple spots. He can beat guards inside and uses violent hands to defeat tackles inside and around the corner. Latu's not just a pass rusher, though. He can move in coverage and sheds blocks to stop run plays before they get started.) (11-29-23): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-top-20-senior-bowl-prospects-of-the-2023-college-football-regular
CFB Week 13: Tyler Nubin and Laiatu Latu Headline Underrated 2024 NFL Draft Prospects (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Medicals will be important, but Laiata Latu would be a clear top-10 pick next April based on pure ability. He wins with unbelievable hand usage and closing burst. His ability to avoid the tackle’s punch and dip under them is hard to stop When linemen overset, Latu can counter quickly with an inside move. His pass-rush plan will translate well at the next level and make him an impact player as a rookie. Latu’s motor always runs hot. He tracked down the quarterback on several plays when the structure broke down. No matter the point in the game, Latu was always going 100%, which coaches will love. UCLA kicks him inside where Latu has the quickness and bend to beat guards. Latu is very slippery as a run defender and has the play strength to shed blockers. The most underrated part of Latu’s game is his ability to finish wins. He has that extra burst to get to the quarterback, leading to 13 sacks this season. Latu’s production has been off the charts and wreaked havoc essentially every week. It’s a weak edge group this year, and Latu has helped tremendously to elevate it. He possesses the upside to be a true No. 1 pass rusher in the NFL. A technician with high-end athleticism, Latu is a blue-chip prospect in this class.(11-23-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2023-cfb-week-13-underrated-2024-nfl-draft-prospects/
2024 NFL Draft prospects, risers and sliders after Week 12 of college football: Laiatu Latu, Nate Wiggins and more (Risers - 1. Laiatu Latu (Defensive Lineman - UCLA)Latu has been on a tear all season long and turned in another great performance as the Bruins dominated crosstown rival USC. Finishing the game with seven tackles, two TFLs and two sacks, Latu ends the season with 20.5 TFLs and 13 sacks.A long, athletic defensive front-seven player, Latu is equally effective standing over tackle as he is coming out of a three-point stance. Latu’s film screams first round, but medicals could push him down draft boards. Latu was forced to transfer to UCLA after Washington refused to medically clear him due to a long history of injuries. He will be one of the most interesting stories in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, as Latu could end up as a top-42 pick or drop into the late rounds based on combine medicals.) (11-22-23): https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-2024-nfl-draft-prospects-risers-sliders-week-12-college-football-laiatu-latu-nate-wiggins-and-more
2024 NFL Draft Stock – Week 12 (Up - Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA: Latu got off to a slow start to cross-town rivals USC, but he went on to put together a superb game. In the second quarter, Latu made a nice play in run support. bursting into the backfield to disrupt the play and set up a tackle for a loss for a teammate. Shortly later, Latu had an impressive inside rush to flush quarterback Caleb Williams out of the pocket. In the third quarter, Latu had an impressive sack that saw him cut between the guard and tackle off the snap. Latu shoved the right guard off of him and then closed on Williams in a blur. Latu added another sack on the next play after running around the right tackle and then using power to bull through the running back to get to Williams. That gave Latu 13 sacks on the season. Latu’s performance against USC showed why he is a likely top-10 selection for the 2024 NFL Draft – and why he is the top defensive prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. Latu has serious speed off the edge and the ability quickly fire upfield to blow by blockers. Beyond his speed, Latu possesses functional strength to fight off blocks and is able to use hands and feet at the same time. When free, Latu closes in a blur with a serious burst to the quarterback. Latu can bend, is athletic, and plays hard. He could be a dangerous quarterback hunter and an impactful player in the NFL.) (11-21-23): https://walterfootball.com/draft2024stock_12.php
2024 NFL Draft: College Football Game Recaps – Week 12 (Latu got off to a bit of quiet start before turning in a superb game for the Bruins. In the second quarter, he made a nice play in run support, bursting into the backfield to disrupt the play and set up a tackle for a loss for a teammate. Shortly later, Latu had an impressive inside rush that flushed Williams out of the pocket. In the third quarter, Latu had an impressive sack after cutting between the guard and tackle off the snap. Latu shoved the right guard off of him and then closed on Williams in a blur. On the very next play, Latu added another sack, running around the right tackle and then using power to bull through the running back to get to Williams. That gave Latu 13 sacks on the season. This game gave proof why Latu will be a top-10 pick next April in the 2024 NFL Draft and why he is the top defensive prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. Latu has serious speed off the edge with the ability quickly fire upfield and blow by blockers. Beyond his speed, Latu has functional strength to fight off blocks and is able to use hands and feet at the same time. When free, Latu closes in a blur, showing a serious burst to the quarterback. Latu can bend, is athletic, and plays hard. He could be a dangerous quarterback hunter and an impactful player at the next level.) (11-19-23): https://walterfootball.com/draft2024recap_12.php
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 11 (EDGE DEFENDER
Power Five: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins – 93.6. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade that ranked fourth among Power Five edge defenders. This season, his 22.3% pressure rate is second among all FBS edge defenders, while his 23.1% pass-rush win rate is third.) (11-17-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-through-week-11
College Football: 10 highest-graded edge defenders ahead of Week 12 (1. LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS - Overall grade: 93.6. Snaps played: 419. Not only is Latu the highest-ranked edge defender on our draft board, but he’s also our sixth-highest-ranked overall player. Latu has produced 51 pressures across 238 pass-rush snaps. His 12 sacks already ties his total from 2022.) (11-17-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-10-highest-graded-edge-defenders-ahead-of-week-12
Edge Rushers Lions Could Target in 2024 NFL Draft (Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Latu has enjoyed a strong season with the Bruins, but this season wasn't always guaranteed. After suffering a neck injury at Washington in 2021, Huskies' then-coach Jimmy Lake announced that Latu had retired. However, he entered the transfer portal and found his way to UCLA, where he has logged 21.5 sacks in 23 games. He possesses elite quickness and a knack for getting to the quarterback, along with the ability to a sure-tackling ability that has produced 18.5 tackles for loss this season alone. Concerns about his longevity as it relates to his injury could hurt his draft stock, though his production as of late has seemed to counter those misgivings. He has played in all 23 games possible over the last two seasons, so durability hasn't been a concern. Latu's abilities as a rusher would fit perfectly, be it off the edge or as Detroit's SAM linebacker.) (11-16-23): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/edge-rushers-lions-could-add-2024-nfl-draft
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 10 (EDGE DEFENDER
Power Five: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins – 93.9. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade that was fourth among Power Five edge defenders. His 24.7% pressure rate this season leads all FBS edge defenders.) (11-10-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-through-week-10
College Football Week 11 Preview: Storylines, matchups and predictions for the five biggest games (The Utes currently place 11th nationally in EPA per pass and are led by edge defender Jonah Elliss, whose 12 sacks are tied with Laiatu Latu for the most among Power Five defenders.) (11-9-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-11-preview-storylines-matchups-and-predictions-for-the-five-biggest-games
2024 NFL Draft: Every top-25 team's best prospect ahead of Week 10 (19. UCLA: EDGE LAIATU LATU
PFF big board rank: 6. Latu currently carries the title of EDGE1 in this class. He has earned a 93.0 pass-rush grade with a 23.8% pass-rush win percentage this season, ranking first and sixth, respectively, among FBS edge rushers.) (11-3-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-every-top-25-team-best-prospect-week-10
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 9 (Daniels, McCarthy, Salter, Colema, Jeanty, Nabers, McGray, Barner, Sefcik, Alt, Karas, Beebe, Webb, Van Pran, Haynesworth, Sweat, Anderson, Latu, Bell, Cooper, Walker, Castro, Mitchell, Nubin, Taylor) (11-3-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-through-week-9
2024 NFL Draft: Midseason strengths, weaknesses for the top prospect at every defensive position (EDGE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA - PFF big board rank: 6. Strength: Pass-Rush Profile. What doesn’t Latu do well? From a technical standpoint, he is well beyond his years, even as an older prospect. His hand usage is excellent, and his approach to pass rushing is so savvy. He is constantly slipping past blockers, whether that’s against the inside or outside shoulders. 2023 marks the second year in a row where he has recorded a pass-rush grade above 91.0 and a pass-rush win percentage above 20%. His extensive pass-rush profile makes him such an alluring player. College offensive tackles just can’t block this guy. Weakness: Twitchy Athleticism. Though I wouldn’t say Latu is a bad athlete, he isn’t as explosive or twitched-up as some of the other edge rushers in this class. He’s more of a smooth criminal than an all-out athlete.) (11-2-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-midseason-strengths-weaknesses-top-prospects-defense-big-board
Lions 2024 draft watch: 8 players to watch, including EDGE Laiatu Latu (Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA (Senior)
6-foot-5, 261 pounds. An excerpt from Anthon Sports Kyle Crabbs’ profile of Latu: “Latu has the instincts, the motor, and the pass rush prowess to be a significant difference-maker at the NFL level. I do believe that he’s a step down athletically from the top tier of EDGEs eligible for 2024, which drops him below higher-ceiling players in the pecking order. That, paired with a concerning medical past that NFL teams must reconcile, will likely make him a player that goes later than he should based on his on-field merit.” How he’d fit with the Lions: With edge rushers Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, and Julian Okwara playing in the final year of their contracts, the Lions may need to replenish their depth this offseason. Latu has loads of talent but his inexperience and previous neck injury could put him in the Lions range at incredible value.) (10-28-23): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2023/10/28/23935773/detroit-lions-2024-draft-watch-8-players-edge-laiatu-latu
College Football Week 8: PFF Team of the Week and Player Awards (EDGE: Laiatu Latu, UCLA) (10-23-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-8-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2023
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 7 (EDGE DEFENDER
POWER FIVE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS – 93.5. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade, fourth among Power Five edge defenders. Latu's 93.5 PFF grade leads all players in the country. His 25% pressure rate is second among FBS edge defenders, while his three forced fumbles are tied for the second-most among all defensive players. To top it off, Latu also has an interception.) (10-20-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-through-week-7
Midseason draft stock report: Biggest risers from the start of the college season (Two players deserve mention for their omissions: UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. Latu showed the complete package as a pass rusher in 2022. The only real question about his NFL stock is the medical evaluations. So far, so good. He’s been the nation’s most impactful pass rusher in the college football season.) (10-19-23): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-draft-stock-report-biggest-risers-keon-coleman-kamara-fuaga/
2023 PFF College Football Midseason Awards: Michael Penix Jr. takes home the Heisman Trophy (CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD/BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY (BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER) - Winner: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade, ranking fourth among Power Five edge defenders. Latu leads college football with a 93.7 overall grade this season. His 25% pressure rate is second among FBS edge defenders, while his three forced fumbles are tied for the second most among all defensive players. To top it all off, Latu has an interception, as well. ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD (BEST LINEMAN) - Winner: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins TED HENDRICKS AWARD (BEST DEFENSIVE END) - Winner: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins) (10-18-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-2023-pff-college-football-midseason-awards-michael-penix-jr-heisman-trophy
College Football Week 7: 2024 NFL Draft prospects to watch, including Bo Nix vs. Michael Penix Jr. | NFL Draft (EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA VS. OT TALIESE FUAGA, OREGON STATE - This matchup might not have a ton of national hype, but it may be my favorite of the weekend. Two players in the top 25 of the 2024 PFF big board go up against one another in the trenches. This is the second season in a row where UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu has recorded a 91.0-plus pass-rush grade and a 20%-plus pass-rush win rate. For my money, he’s the best pass-rusher in the country and in the 2024 class. Meanwhile, Beavers offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga is one of the most underrated players in the country. This is the second season where he has earned an overall grade above 80.0, and he does so with strength first. Latu is a player who wins with a lot of finesse. He will be a fantastic test for Fuaga.) (10-14-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-college-football-week-7-2024-nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-bo-nix-michael-penix
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 6 (EDGE DEFENDER
Power Five: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins – 93.7. Latu has the best comeback story in college football. While at Washington, he missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade, fourth among Power Five edge defenders. His 91.3 pass-rushing grade leads all Power Five edges this season, while his 24.3% pressure rate is third among players in the FBS. His 93.7 overall grade doesn’t just lead all edge defenders in the country; it’s tied with Michael Penix Jr. for the best among all FBS players.) (10-13-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-through-week-6
College Football Week 7 Preview: Storylines, matchups and predictions for the six biggest games (Oregon State currently has the highest-graded offensive line in the Power Five this season (85.2). The Beavers’ front five ranks third in the country with an 89.8 run-blocking grade and ninth in the Power Five with a 14.1% pressure rate allowed. The star of that group is right tackle Taliese Fuaga, whose 90.1 run-blocking grade is 3.5 points higher than the next-closest FBS tackle. He’ll often be lined up against Laiatu Latu, the highest-graded defensive player in the nation this season (93.6). His 24.3% pressure rate ranks fourth among all edge defenders this season. UCLA also leads college football with a 2.77-yard average depth of tackle in the run game and paces the Power Five with an 89.8 pass-rushing grade.) (10-12-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-7-preview-storylines-matchups-predictions-2023
2023 College Football Midseason All-America Team: Michael Penix Jr., Dallas Turner and more (EDGE DEFENDER: LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS - While at Washington, Latu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons after being forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He then transferred to UCLA and posted a 91.0 pass-rushing grade that ranked fourth among Power Five edge defenders. His 91.3 pass-rushing grade this season leads all Power Five edges this season, while his 24.3% pressure rate places third in the FBS. The senior’s 93.7 grade also doesn’t just lead all edge defenders in the country; it’s tied with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the best among all FBS players.) (10-11-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-midseason-all-america-team-michael-penix-jr-dallas-turner-2023
2024 NFL Draft: Midseason College Football All-Prospect Team (EDGE: LAIATU LATU, UCLA - College football's best pass rusher through Week 6 is UCLA’s Laiatu Latu. His 91.w pass-rush grade is the best in the Power Five, and his 21.4% pass-rush win — if maintained — would be his second straight 20%-plus mark. He should be in the conversation for the first defensive player to be drafted.) (10-11-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-midseason-college-football-all-prospect-team
2024 NFL Draft: Top 20 Senior Bowl prospects as college football approaches midseason (4. Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA (6-5, 265): Latu started the season strong, ripping past Coastal Carolina's tackles easily to earn three sacks in the Bruins' win. Though he did not have a sack in last month's loss at Utah, he showed scouts a diverse skill set. Latu stood up on the left and right side of the line, went man-up against guards and tackles from a three-point stance, adeptly dropped into coverage and chased plays from the back side. When inside, he penetrated with quickness and used leverage in the run game. Tackles found blocking him a difficult ask because he played with quick and strong hands and got under their upfield shoulder. Latu also used his hands to disengage from blocks to grab ball-carriers. He recorded his fifth sack of the year in UCLA's win over Washington State last week, confirming his status as a top senior prospect.) (10-10-23): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-top-20-senior-bowl-prospects-as-college-football-approaches-midse
College Football Week 6: PFF Team of the Week and Player Awards (EDGE: Laiatu Latu, UCLA) (10-9-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-6-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2023
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 5 (EDGE DEFENDER
Power Five: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins – 92.4. Latu enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022 after not playing in either of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to a neck injury. That dominance also seems to have extended to this season, showing why PFF’s lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema projected him inside the top five of his latest mock draft. He leads all FBS defenders in overall grade and paces all Power Five edge defenders with a 27.3% pressure rate.) (10-6-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-week-5
2024 NFL Draft: Early prospect superlatives, including Drake Maye and Laiatu Latu (BEST PASS-RUSH PROFILE: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA. For the second season in a row, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu has been on a pass-rush tear. This year, the fifth-year senior has 18 total pressures, a 21.7% pass-rush win rate and a 26.1% pressure percentage, which is the highest in the Power Five and the second highest in the FBS. If you don’t know Latu’s story, he started his college football career at Washington but suffered a neck injury that forced him to medically retire from football for a few seasons. He transferred to UCLA and was cleared to play in 2022, and if his NFL Combine medicals check out, he’ll be on a top-15 trajectory for stats and clips like the one above.) (10-5-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-early-prospect-superlatives-drake-maye-laiatu-latu
College Football 2023: Highest-graded players at every position through Week 4 (EDGE DEFENDER
Power Five: Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins – 92.5. Latu enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022 after not playing in either of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to a neck injury. That dominance seems to have extended to this season, showing why we have him as a top-10 prospect in the 2024 draft. He leads all FBS defenders in overall grade and leads all Power Five edge defenders with a 27.3% pressure rate.) (9-29-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-2023-highest-graded-players-at-every-position-week-4
CFB Week 4 2023: Draft Prospects Cameron Ward, Keon Coleman, and Will Shipley Stand Out (The UCLA edge combination of Laiatu Latu and Gabriel Murphy was swarming as usual in this game. Both players have bad tendencies they continue to replicate, but they’re also so productive and effective that it’s hard to knock them over these. In Murphy’s case, those tendencies include over-penetrating and then missing on a potential tackle for loss. Latu continues to show great awareness of his physical limitations, the latter being concerning. He has to arc outside of the pocket to create a better angle to get to the quarterback, taking valuable time that allowed the Utah QB to get rid of the ball. I like Latu, and he profiles as a helpful contributor in the NFL, but his lack of bend and pure speed is an issue.) (9-25-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-week-4-2023-draft-prospects/
NFL scouts will be watching Dillon Gabriel, Tommy Eichenberg, more in Week 4 (Averaging more than 40 points per game, UCLA is undefeated in large part due to Chip Kelly’s dynamic offense. But make no mistake, the Bruins’ top NFL prospect is edge rusher Laiatu Latu. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound senior has dominated the competition to this point in the season, filling up the stat sheet in every conceivable way. He leads not only the Bruins, but the entire Pac-12 in both tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (four), and also has a forced fumble and interception (which he returned 25 yards) on his résumé as well. While Latu has the size to play a traditional 4-3 defensive end role, the Bruins have featured him this season as a stand-up outside linebacker — which might be the only reason he doesn’t run away with the Morris Trophy this year as the conference’s best defensive linemen. It has been 20 years since the last Bruins defender — Dave Ball — won the award, and UCLA has not had a defensive lineman go in the first round of the NFL Draft since Takk McKinley and Kenny Clark cracked the Top 32 in 2017 and 2016, respectively. For a big man, Latu generates incredible initial burst and closing speed off the snap. His speed rush alone is enough to beat most offensive tackles, and he pairs it with forceful, active hands.) (9-21-23): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/nfl-scouts-will-be-watching-dillon-gabriel-tommy-eichenberg-more-in-week-4
6 Draft Prospects Lions Should Watch (UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu: Latu is an intriguing story. Once declared medically ineligible at Washington, he's revived his career since transferring to UCLA in the spring. In two games, he already has four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Time will tell if his health can hold up through the course of the season, but he has the potential to be a game-wrecker at the professional ranks. With both Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris on expiring contracts, the Lions could be in the market next offseason for a starting-caliber EDGE rusher. Latu has 14 career sacks, and could be the guy that fits the need for Aaron Glenn's defense.) (9-16-23): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/draft-prospects-lions-should-watch-adonai-mitchell
2024 NFL Draft Stock Report (Up - Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA: Latu was in dominant form for the Bruins in Week 1, recording three sacks against Coastal Carolina. After recording 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022, Latu is proving to be a dangerous quarterback hunter. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder is quick off the edge with athleticism and a strong build. Playing for Washington, Latu had injury issues that cost him the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A serious neck injury caused former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake to say Latu’s career was over, but he transferred to UCLA after Lake and his staff were let go. Latu then received medical clearance from UCLA before resuming his career. Latu is talented and staying healthy in 2023 could help to reassure NFL team. He is off to a good start, playing well against Coastal Carolina and San Diego State.) (9-12-23): https://walterfootball.com/draft2024stock_02.php
Why UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu is one of the 2024 NFL Draft's biggest early risers (9-6-23): https://www.pff.com/news/cfb-why-ucla-edge-laiatu-latu-is-one-of-the-2024-nfl-drafts-biggest-early-risers
College Football Week 1: PFF Team of the Week and Player Awards (EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA. Latu was on the field for 33 pass-rushing snaps against Coastal Carolina and dominated all game long, racking up three sacks, three hits and four hurries to earn a 93.9 PFF pass-rushing grade.) (9-4-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-week-1-pff-team-of-the-week-and-player-awards-2023
Week 1 College Football Team of the Week: Colorado Buffaloes Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, Dylan Edwards Take Over (EDGE Defender: Laiatu Latu, UCLA: Turning it on when they really needed him to, Laiatu Latu heated up down the stretch for UCLA. After last year’s 10-sack performance, Latu picked back up where he left off in his 2023 debut. Latu brought down two sacks as he was constantly forcing Grayson McCall up in the pocket and kept him uncomfortable. In fact, it was certainly due to the pressure consistently in his face that this was McCall’s first ever multi-interception game.) (9-4-23): https://collegefootballnetwork.com/college-football-team-of-the-week-1-2023/
CFB Week 1 2023: Draft Prospects Shedeur Sanders, Joe Milton, and Drake Maye Stand Out (Pass rusher Laiatu Latu was all over the field as the game progressed and had a terrific pure edge sack. Some will say that’s not a surprise given his impressive raw numbers last year, but his tape in 2022 was good and not great. He often won on coverage sacks, or UCLA brought chaotic blitzes that earned him easy looks at the quarterback. Latu started similarly in this one, going completely unnoticed until the last drive of the first half. Then, he suddenly unleashed a great set of pass-rush moves and just enough speed to beat his blockers. He finished with three sacks and a handful of disruptive plays. He came into his own and mastered his hand usage and move set in the second half. Latu was more effective with hands and having him wide opened up more possibilities with his speed. I’m still concerned with his lack of lateral explosiveness — he can’t recover when he gets too far in one direction. Nonetheless, it’s easier to project him on Day 2 if he can string performances like this together.) (9-4-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-week-1-2023-draft-prospects-shedeur-sanders-joe-milton-drake-maye/
Draft: Sleeper QBs, prospects with most to gain & more (3. Who is the prospect you are most excited to watch? Trapasso: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA. "Williams, Brock Bowers, or Marvin Harrison Jr. would be the easy answers. But we have a good feel for how phenomenal they are already. With Latu, I feel like he's just scratching the surface as a football player. And he was incredibly slippery and explosive as a rusher last season for the Bruins.") (9-1-23): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-under-the-radar-quarterbacks-prospects-with-the-most-to-gain-and-other-draft-superlatives/
2024 NFL Draft: Top 25 Senior Bowl prospects entering Week 1 of college football season (14. Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA (6-5, 265): Latu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Washington with a neck injury before transferring to UCLA, where doctors cleared him to play. The first-team All-Pac-12 pick tied for eighth in the FBS with 10.5 sacks, often alternating his pass-rush moves between power and quickness. He also held his ground and shed blockers to stop run plays.) (8-29-23): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-top-25-senior-bowl-prospects-entering-week-1-of-college-football-
2024 NFL Draft prospect primer: Next Matt Judon? Ranking edge rushers to watch, pro comparisons and more (5. Laiatu Latu (UCLA) - Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 265 pounds. Accolades/notable statistics: 2022 first-team All-Pac 12; tied for fifth-most quarterback pressures (65) in FBS in 2022 with Alabama's Will Anderson Jr.; led UCLA in sacks (10.5, eighth-most in FBS and second-most in Pac-12) and tackles for loss (12.5) in 2022; 2022 college football Comeback Player of the Year co-winner (medically retired after having neck surgery and returned to football in 2022). Rick Spielman's comp: Brian Burns (Panthers). "His history with the neck injury is a major concern. He will be the most scrutinized player medically at next year's combine by the 32 teams because you do not want to screw around with someone's neck. I've been around too many situations where guys have had neck injuries. Those are things NFL teams will take very seriously. Where he goes is dependent on the neck. It's huge that he proved he could play a full season and his neck held up. A lot will depend on the MRIs and the specifics of his surgery. He has the talent and ability, but will he be able to pass NFL physicals when teams get their hands on him? This guy is very fluid in his hips and can set offensive linemen up with his dips and bends. He could also stand to improve against offensive tackles when defending the run." Ryan Wilson's comp: Terrell Lewis (Bears) - "He's a high-motor guy, but his injury history can make you pause. He had a really good season last year. He's a fantastic football player. The medical stuff will have to sort itself out. He was a productive player with plenty of ability. Latu had 1.5 sacks last year against USC and [Heisman Trophy winner] Caleb Williams." Draft range: Second or third round. Final thoughts - Laiatu Latu's top traits -- his ability to dip and bend his hips to get lower than opposing offensive tackles to create leverage -- were on full display against Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams and USC. In the clip below, Latu gets around the edge to gain a step on the left tackle before breaking down lower to smack Williams from behind for a sack. That play encapsulates all of the nice things Latu can provide when defending the pass. However, when defending the run, he can get caught up in the wash of the play at times, failing to separate from the muck offensive linemen can create when run-blocking. If he can remain healthy and improve against the run, Latu's NFL future could be bright.) (8-16-23): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-prospect-primer-next-matt-judon-ranking-edge-rushers-to-watch-pro-comparisons-and-more/
Early 2024 NFL Draft edge defender rankings: Florida State's Jared Verse has dominated FCS and FBS (2. LAIATU LATU, UCLA - Latu was one of my favorite film watches of the entire summer scouting exercise, and you gain an even greater appreciation for him as a prospect when you learn he almost didn’t get to this point. Latu started his career at Washington but suffered a neck injury going into his sophomore year that forced him to medically retire from football. After a few years off, he transferred to UCLA, where he has been medically cleared to play. In his first season of action since 2019, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound edge rusher posted a 20% pass-rush win rate with 64 pressures, 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He’s a technician in his pass-rush approach with a deep mental notepad of moves and counters. Once he gets his leverage and pad level to be more consistent, the sky will be the limit for him when healthy.) (8-9-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-early-2024-nfl-draft-edge-defender-rankings-jared-verse
UCLA Bruins Preview: Roster, Prospects, Schedule, and More (Laiatu Latu, EDGE - The team’s leading sacker last year, Laiatu Latu has an NFL build at 6’4″ and 261 pounds. He was used all over the defense, sometimes as a nose tackle and sometimes as a stand-up edge rusher. Latu moves well for his size, but his athleticism didn’t match his production. Lacking a great burst and power as a pure edge defender, Latu must show a deeper array of pass-rush moves and the ability to string together those moves in order to win in 2023. Otherwise, his best value is as a subpackage player who can be moved around on blitzes, as his effort and size are his best qualities. Latu has a late-round grade entering the fall.) (8-1-23): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ucla-bruins-preview-2024-draft/
2024 NFL Draft top 25 watchlist: Williams at the top (6. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Latu had 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for the Bruins last season after transferring from Washington. His 22% pressure rate was second best among players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, according to TruMedia. (His former teammate, Bralen Trice, was first on the list.) Latu injured his neck during the fall leading up to the 2020 season, and Washington allegedly told him he would never play again. He medically retired in 2021 but has obviously returned to play at a high level.) (7-31-23): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-top-25-watchlist-caleb-williams-marvin-harrison-jr-lead-offensive-leaning-group/
2024 NFL Draft Watch List: 10 prospects to know at every defensive position (LAIATU LATU, UCLA: If there was a Comeback Player of the Year award in college football, Latu would have been a top candidate. The redshirt junior missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Washington after he was forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He resumed his career this past season at UCLA and was one of the most productive edge defenders in the country. Among Power Five edge defenders, Latu tied for second in pressures (64), ranked third in pressure rate (21.7%) and tied for third in sacks (12). He has good power at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds with an array of pass-rushing moves at his disposal.) (5-10-23): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-watch-list-10-prospects-to-know-every-defensive-position
Ranking top 10 defensive prospects for 2024 NFL Draft: Loaded edge rusher group, smooth Alabama CB, and more (8. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: There was some thought Latu would've entered his name in the 2023 draft after an enormous 65-pressure campaign for the Bruins. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Latu has a tall, slenderish frame with plenty of stored power. His body control through contact is outstanding, and he's clearly been coached well as a rusher because he deploys his hands in a creative way on almost every outside pass-rushing attempt.) (5-9-23): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/ranking-top-10-defensive-prospects-for-2024-nfl-draft-loaded-edge-rusher-group-smooth-alabama-cb-and-more/
Top 10 returning edge defenders in college football for the 2023 season (7. LAIATU LATU, UCLA BRUINS: If there was a comeback player of the year award in college football, Latu would have been a top candidate. The redshirt junior missed the last two seasons at Washington after he was forced to medically retire with a neck injury. He resumed his career this past season at UCLA and was one of the most productive edge defenders in the country. Among Power Five edge defenders, Latu was tied for second in pressures (64), third in pressure rate (21.7%) and tied for third in sacks (12).) (5-5-23): https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-top-10-returning-edge-defenders-in-college-football-for-the-2023-season
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