UCLA Edge Rusher Reflects on Injury Journey, Eyes Quarterback Sacks

It's been a long road for the redshirt senior

The UCLA Bruins edge rusher Laiatu Latu is poised to embark on his senior season, marking his second year with the team.

 His dominant performances in 2022 earned him recognition as part of the All-Pac-12 preseason first team, solidifying his position as UCLA's best defender. As he enters this season, Latu sets his sights on the ultimate goal – being drafted into the NFL next spring.

The road to this point has been a challenging one for Latu. During his playing days at Washington, he faced a devastating neck injury that led multiple doctors to declare he would never play football again. 

Despite this discouraging prognosis, Latu refused to be deterred. He defied the odds, making a triumphant return to the football field, and not just to play but to perform at an elite level.

During the Pac-12 media day, Latu reflected on the arduous journey from being told he would never play again to becoming a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron

“It’s a crazy feeling,” Latu said of his rise to prominence. “I’ve never lost my passion and love for the game — it will always be there — but it’s just different being acknowledged for what you did on the field than being a nobody that I was.”

(via LA Times)

It's crazy to think that Latu not only came back to the field, but he came back even better than he was before the injury. As the season approaches, Latu will have his sights set on taking the Bruins to new heights in a tough Pac-12 conference. 

It won't be easy, but Latu set a mark that he could very much get to by season's end when it comes to number of sacks. 

“Fifteen,” the redshirt senior said Friday at Pac-12 media day at Resorts World Las Vegas. “I want to get every single quarterback multiple times.”

As he prepares to take the field for his senior season, the anticipation builds, and everyone is eager to witness his exceptional contributions to UCLA's quest for success in the coming year.