After having football taken away from him, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu vows to play every down as if it were his last.
Less than 1% of all high school football players in America eventually play for an NFL team. The challenge is immense, with kids dedicating their entire lives to a shot at playing professional football.
Latu loved all sports at a young age and was a standout in whatever he played. He partook in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and even rugby. Latu was a do-it-all athlete whose love of competition motivated him to play year-round. The senior season out of Latu was something to behold. The four-star recruit tallied 94 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks, earning Latu first-team All-State honors. Overall, Latu finished his high school career with 178 tackles, 50.5 tackles for loss, and 27 sacks. Latu also lettered in rugby at Jesuit, leading the team to two national titles.. “I was very fortunate to have coached since he was a 10th grader at Jesuit. He was eager to learn and had tremendous talent.
During fall practice before the 2020 season, Latu suffered a neck injury. The injury did not seem serious at first, but Latu could not shake the numbness in his neck. Latu missed the Huskies' COVID-shortened 2020 season as team doctors hoped the neck would heal on its own. Latu was out of football for the 2021 season but continued to work toward stepping back on the field. He served as a student assistant for the Huskies while rehabbing his neck and working on his craft. Latu also returned to playing rugby, impressing enough that the Seattle Seawolves offered him a contract. But Latu was not going to give up the dream of playing football.
With Latu now cleared by a respected orthopedic spine surgeon, he returned to Washington with the news, hoping he would be allowed to rejoin the team. However, the school's medical staff refused to reverse their decision. If Latu would play football again, it would not be for the Huskies. “While at UCLA, I tell Chip Kelly, 'Do you mind at least taking these MRIs and see if our team doctor will accept and have Laiatu join us at UCLA?',”. “So I give him the doctor’s name and Coach Kelly said, ‘Are you sure that’s the doctor?’ And I said, 'I’m sure, why, do you know him?' And he said, 'Yeah that’s our team doctor.'”
Latu quickly ascended to one of the most feared pass rushers in all of college football over the next two seasons. In 25 games at UCLA, Latu finished with 85 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and three passes defended.
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