UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Lands in Top-3 of PFF's Top 2023 Players List

Another indicator for Latu's first-round projection in the 2024 NFL Draft

Laiatu Latu has stacked up some impressive hardware on his mantel during his collegiate playing career. He won the Lombardi Award (best lineman in college) this season and was also a unanimous All-American selection. 

But in addition to all the legacy awards Latu's won, he's also been given a new-age co-sign by Pro Football Focus. 

PFF rates every player's rep all season long, and according to them, Latu finished as one of the best overall players in 2023. According to PFF's rating system, Latu will be heading into the 2024 NFL Draft fresh off the best season that any college football player has had since PFF began grading college players in 2014. 

His grade in 2023 was at 96.3, which is higher than the final college seasons of current NFL stars like New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young. 

Best Players from the 2023 College Football Season:

🐻 #2: Laiatu Latu, UCLA pic.twitter.com/23r4plrta9

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 9, 2024

That's a stamp of approval from both the legacy media and newer, more data-driven media. The two-time first-team All-Pac 12 selection finished his college career with 25 sacks and five forced fumbles. 

He's known for his fast-twitch style of play and is considered a stout run defender and a dangerous pass rusher. With great length and an impressive ability to shed blocks, it would be hard to imagine him slipping out of the first round in the upcoming draft. 

According to PFF, during the 2023 season, there was nobody more likely to win a pass rush rep. Latu won those at a blistering 27% mark, meaning that for every four passing plays, Latu was going to make his impact felt at least once. 

While this particular stat may not take into account things like level of competition, it at the very least, highlights Latu's consistency as a pass rusher.