UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Details Mentality After Being Forced Into Early Medical Retirement

It's been a long road to the Scouting Combine for Latu.

UCLA Bruins outside linebacker Laiatu Latu is at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, meeting with teams, taking physicals and showing off his skillset ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Of course, Latu almost didn't make it to this point after medically retiring in 2021 due to a neck injury. Latu sustained the injury while with the Washington Huskies, where the doctors did not think he'd be able to play football again.

Later in that school year, Latu entered the transfer portal, and left to UCLA for a shot at playing college football again. Latu was cleared for Spring Football in 2022, and Latu returned to the field and spent his final two college seasons as a Bruin.

Ahead of the combine, Latu opened up to via The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue about how difficult it was when he learned the news that he'd have to medically retire.

"I love football with all of my heart,” said Latu. “When I was told I couldn’t play football again … I felt like I lost my heart a little bit, I lost who I was. Getting football back, I felt like I got my heart back. I found my identity again.”

Latu came back better than ever as a Bruin. After recording 10.5 sacks in 2022, Latu led the Pac-12 with 13 sacks and led the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss in 2023.

His tremendous efforts earned him numerous accolades after his final collegiate season. Latu was named a unanimous All-American and was the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, he won the Ted Hendricks award for the best defensive end in college football, and the Morris Trophy, given to the best offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac-12.

After almost never getting to play football again, Latu came back to become one of the best defenders in the game, and is now projected to become a first-round draft pick.