UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Reveals Which NFL Superstar He Will Mold His Game After
As Laiatu Latu gets ready to participate in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he's modeling his game after a couple of star NFL pass rushers — Maxx Crosby and T.J. Watt.
While speaking at the combine, Latu explained what makes him look up to Crosby and Watt so much.
"Maxx Crosby. The way he plays the game, he's a mad man, the way he gets after it in the run. I can't look up to him enough. Especially T.J. Watt, he's another guy that hits that chop really clean."
— Laiatu Latu.
Latu added that he will get the opportunity to watch film and train with Crosby in the near future.
"I haven't met Maxx. I've talked to him on the phone, he's giving me some tips and stuff like that."
— Laiatu Latu.
Latu picked two great players to look up to. Crosby is one of the best defensive ends in the game. Though sometimes his contributions get overlooked since he's on the Las Vegas Raiders, he is a true game-wrecker on the defensive line.
Crosby is coming off a season in which he recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks while earning his second second-team All-Pro nod and third Pro Bowl.
Meanwhile, Watt is a former Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Pro, and has led the NFL in sacks three different times. He tied the NFL single-season sack record with 22.5, and is one of the most dominant rushers in the NFL.
Like Crosby and Watt, Latu has the potential to be great. Latu led college football in tackles for loss in 2023 with 22 and finished fourth in sacks with 14. By taking the opportunity to learn from Crosby or Watt, he can improve on this even more as he enters the NFL.
