UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Earns Lofty NFL Pro-Player Comparisons
As UCLA Bruins football's Laiatu Latu performed at the NFL Scouting Combine Thursday, he received several impressive NFL pro player comparisons.
First, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah compared Laiatu Latu to Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson.
Though Hendrickson has been an underrated player, he is one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL. Hendrickson has made each of the last three Pro Bowls and finished second in 2023 in sacks with 17.5.
Jeremiah noted that Hendrickson and Latu put up similar measurements and stats at the combine. Latu is 6'4 and 3/4, while Hendrickson is 6'4. Their forty-yard dash and vertical jump measurements also proved eerily similar. Latu ran a 4.64 40-yard dash while Hendrickson ran a 4.65. Hendrickson put in a 33.5 inch vertical jump, and Latu posted a 32 inch jump.
After, Charles Davis compared Latu's movement to Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. Latu was the talk of the second group from Thursday's NFL combine. Phillips, a fellow former UCLA Bruin, is one of the NFL's most talented young pass rushers even though he hasn't had the chance to fully break out yet. Of course, Phillips' 2023 season was cut short after he tore his Achilles.
Phillips and Latu share another similarity in that they were both forced to medically retire. Latu's prior neck injury almost kept him away from continuing his football career before he transferred to UCLA. Meanwhile, Phillips had to leave UCLA football due to sustaining multiple concussions and injuries for a car accident. Phillips went on to the University of Miami.
Overall, if Latu ends up playing like either Hendrickson or Phillips, he will be a productive NFL pass rusher. He already was one of the best in college football, winning the Ted Hendricks award as the nation's best defensive end.
