UCLA Football: Ahead Of NFL Draft, Laiatu Latu Breaks Down Extensive Skillset

Latu does not lack confidence.

The UCLA Bruins have one of the best edge rushers and defenders entering this year's draft, their superstar, Laiatu Latu. 

Latu is set to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft; the only question is, 'Where?' We won't know for sure until the first night of draft night. 

Nonetheless, he will make some teams very happy with his defensive prowess. We could say how spectacular Latu is, but why do that when he could do it himself? In a recent interview with The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue, Latu took stock of what he brings to the football field. 

“I have a lot of moves in my bag, on purpose,” he said. “I look at pass rush like, you have to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. … You have to respond to that. If you haven’t repped all of the (scenarios), you might not know what that feels like in that moment.”

Latu does an excellent job of making opposing players uncomfortable. He got to the quarterback 13 times and recorded 21.5 tackles for loss; he was the master of disruption. 

He has very little weaknesses on the football field. However, he was so close to overplaying football again. Latu suffered a severe neck injury in 2020, which resulted in a medical retirement and two years off the field. By nothing short of a miracle, he came back even better and stronger. 

Latu recites this saying because of that and all he's gone through in his life. 

“‘Control my rush, react to it,’” he recites, “‘try to make the best play.’ …

“And I don’t even want to say ‘react.’ I think ‘respond’ is a better word. On the field, you’re reacting to stuff. Really, deep down, ‘respond’ — looking back on my life, that is what I’ve done.”

His bag is limitless. Any team would be lucky to draft the 23-year-old UCLA star.