Draft season is just around the corner and there is no better time than now to start breaking down NFL prospects. This class is packed with players that are going to make an impact at the next level. I will cover each and every one of them from the big dudes in the trenches to the erasers patrolling the secondary. Let’s get started with a prospect from the PAC-12, Liatu Latu, for the UCLA Bruins
The Background
Liatu Latu was a three-star recruit EDGE out of Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California. As a sophomore, he played in nine games for the Marauders and recorded 19 tackles, scene solos, a 36.8% solo rate, four TFLs, and three sacks. He had his breakout season as a junior where he played in 12 games while recording 65 total tackles, 47 solos stops, 72.3% solo rate, 17 TFLs, 12 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one recovery, and two blocked punts. Latu would follow that up with a great senior campaign for the Marauders with 12 games played, and registering 94 total tackles (7.83 per game), 72 solo stops (6.0 per game), 29½ TFLs, and six sacks.
Latu had several offers including almost every team in the PAC-12, and ultimately decided to go to Washington where he would spend three seasons with the Huskies. Latu would play in 12 of the 13 games for Washington as a true freshman and would record 16 total tackles, 11 being solo tackles, 68.7% solo rate, 1½ TFLs, ½ a sack, and one PBU. In 2020 the PAC-12 would not have a season due to COVID-19, which stopped just about everything. Then on April 7th, 2021, Latu would retire from football due to a lingering neck injury, that he suffered before the start of his sophomore year, but stayed with the team as a student coach. What a crazy three years for any athlete to have.
Latu would enter the transfer portal in hopes of resuming his career and ultimately transferred to UCLA, where team physicians cleared him to resume his career. In 2022, Latu would arrive on the college football scene with a bang. He appeared in all 13 games for the Bruins, recording 36 total tackles, 12½ TFLs, 10½ sacks, one PBU, three forced fumbles, and one recovery, with one PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Week in week four versus the Colorado Buffaloes. Latu would follow up that season with the best year of his collegiate career in 23’ winning both the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award—the first player in school history to accomplish the feat.
Latu finished his super senior season with 49 total tackles, 23 of them being solo stops, 46.9% solo rate, 21½ TFLs, 13 sacks, two interceptions, four PBUs, and two forced fumbles. He led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and his 13 sacks led the PAC-12 while ranking 4th nationally at 1.08 per game. Latu’s two-year run with the Bruins ended with him playing in 24 games, with 85 total tackles, 51 solo tackles, 60% solo rate, 34 TFLs, 23½ sacks, two interceptions, five PBUs, five forced fumbles, and one recovery. His two seasons with UCLA graded extremely high in my IDP rookie grading system, with top scores in BCR (Blue Chip Rating) of 15.26 and BPS (Big Play Score) of 2.82. Both are elite grades in this class.
Player Breakdown
The first thing I want to mention for Latu is his previous neck injury. I know he’s since been cleared and played two terrific seasons, but we all know what neck injuries can do to a career (ask Leighton Vander Esch and the Dallas Cowboys). They seem to be behind him now but I am always leery of a return. When you look at what Latu can do on the field, he can be a special player as a pass-rush specialist. His measurables at the Combine were 6’5”/259 lbs so he has a desirable NFL frame. He displays great usage of his hands and rarely gets blocked for long periods. A very nice array of slaps, rips, and swats keep would-be blockers at bay.
Latu doesn’t didn’t test as well as I hoped at the combine, with some slower times and explosion numbers. He ran a 4.64 sec (40yd) and a 1.62 sec (10yd split) with his 32” vertical and 9’8” broad jump being middle of this class. Latu has plenty of power but will have some issues with fast speedy backs and receivers. Plays with a high motor and does a great job of timing up when and where to attack. His instincts for the game stand out which allows him to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. While he has good size, his arm length is average at best, which could hinder him with long-armed blockers.
Only two years of production but those two years were elite! That production will translate well at the next level. Latu can run from any lane which allows him to set up angles to the ball that not many others can do. He can play in both the two-point stance and the three-point stance. He needs to improve on his ability to anchor at the point of attack. Can be caught in some unfavorable matchups at times due to speed. Latu isn’t particularly bad at anything but he needs to be more polished.
NFL & Fantasy Projection
I believe Latu is one of the top EDGE players in this class and will likely be drafted as such. A 2nd round fit would put him in the top 64 players of the draft and he’s that. There are a lot of teams that seem to like him so they may be inclined to take him earlier. He is a production-proven player who will be a high-quality passer rush for a good 6 to 8 years, There are a lot of teams that could you use immediately.
In the fantasy world, Latu is likely to be a 3rd to 4th round pick. If I can get him at that value then perfect. I have him as my 5th ish or so EDGE in this class. Not final on that but he’s a really good player that can help your fantasy teams. Latu is a solid choice in any IDP format, he has a high floor of who he can be. If you can’t get one of the top studs (Dallas Turner & Jared Verse) then just be patient and let Latu fall to you in the draft. There is value with Latu in the draft that you can get with those two.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
