UCLA Football: Bruins Edge Rusher Earns ESPN Mid-Season All-American Accolades

Latu continues to have a terrific year...

UCLA DL Laiatu Latu had a ton of preseason hype heading into this year. 

In 2022, he was among the nation's leaders in pressure percentage off the edge. Additionally, another defensive lineman within the Pac-12 was not as feared as Latu. With his combination of bend, quickness, and length, the former prep rugby player totally has the profile of a future high-round pick. 

Unsurprisingly, many mock drafts have Latu going in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Pass rushers are at a premium, and he's about as good as you'll find right now at the collegiate level. 

laiatu latu. EDGE 2. pic.twitter.com/ADbZMmNtZd

— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) October 15, 2023

ESPN came out with its midseason All-America team. Unsurprisingly, Latu appeared on the list as a first-team selection. Here's what Chris Low of ESPN had to say about UCLA's star rusher: 

"It's hard to believe Latu had to medically retire from football after missing the 2020 and 2021 seasons with a neck injury while at Washington. But getting clearance from doctors to play again has paid dividends for both him and UCLA. In his second season with the Bruins, Latu is again one of the more disruptive defenders in the country with nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles."

His strong play has continued this year. When analyzing Pro Football Focus and its weekly findings when it comes to rating players by position, more often than not, you'll see Latu ranked as one of the better defensive ends in the country. 

Very few players possess his skill set. But, what perhaps separates him from others more than anything is his motor. You can be a terrific athlete with supreme physical gifts. We've seen plenty of guys fitting this description, whether they're weight room warriors or pseudo sprinters chalking up insane 40-yard-dash times.

However, it's another thing when said physical gifts are matched with unadulterated effort and desire. Latu is quite emblematic of such a player. 

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Bruins!