University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Laiatu Latu Selected No. 15 Overall by Indianapolis at 2024 NFL Draft
April 25, 2024 | Football
DETROIT – UCLA senior defensive end Laiatu Latu was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. He was the first defensive player selected in the draft.
Latu becomes the 35th first-round NFL draft pick in program history, and first since quarterback Josh Rosen (Arizona Cardinals – No. 10 overall) and offensive tackle Kolton Miller (Oakland Raiders – No. 15 overall) were both taken in the opening round of the 2018 draft. Latu also becomes the first defensive Bruin player to go in the first round since defensive end Takkarist McKinley in 2017 (Atlanta Falcons – No. 26 overall).
With Latu's selection, the Bruins have now had a defensive lineman drafted in three of the last four years (Osa Odighizuwa, 2021; Otito Ogbonnia, 2022).
The Sacramento, Calif. native is coming off a superlative senior season that saw him become UCLA's first-ever winner of the Lombardi Award, Ten Hendricks Award, and Polynesian Defensive Player of the Year Award. A consensus All-American, he was also a finalist for the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Latu finished the 2023 regular season leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). His total of 21.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in the nation this season and the highest mark by a Bruin since Anthony Barr finished the 2012 campaign with 21.5 TFLs. Latu had multiple tackles for loss in seven games during the season and at least 0.5 tackles for loss in each game in 2023.
Latu's total of 13.0 sacks rates tied for third in the country in the category and is also tied for third on the all-time UCLA list. It is the most TFLs by a Bruin since Barr recorded 13.5 in 2012. His total of 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons is the most by a UCLA player since Barr compiled the same total over the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He has registered at least a half a sack in eight of the 12 games this season and, last season. Latu posted a career-high seven tackles each in games this season against both USC and Arizona State. He was credited with two three-sack performances in 2023 against Colorado and Coastal Carolina. He made his first two career interceptions this season against Cal and North Carolina Central.
In 2022, Latu earned College Football Comeback Player of the Year honors after registering 12.5 TFLs and 10.5 sacks for the Bruins. He had missed the entirety of the 2020-21 seasons while at Washington due to injury before transferring to UCLA ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Over two seasons with the Bruins, Latu totaled 85 tackles, 23.5 sacks, 34.0 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles.
The 2024 NFL Draft continues on Friday (rounds 2-3) and Saturday (rounds 4-7). The draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network.
