With the Bucs saying Tuesday that they’d be releasing exterior linebacker Shaq Barrett originally of the 2024 league 12 months, it makes discovering one other proficient cross rusher a extra pronounced crew want. It’s a place that they may deal with with their first-round decide within the 2024 Draft at No. 26, and one potential participant to observe is UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.
Pewter Report caught up with the proficient cross rusher on the NFL Mix this week in Indianapolis and requested him if he met with Tampa Bay and the way he would slot in with the Bucs, amongst different issues.
Laiatu Latu Formally Met With Bucs, Would Love To Play With JTS
On the NFL Mix, Laiatu Latu revealed that he did meet with the Bucs and thinks it went effectively.
“I’ve met with the Bucs, yeah, I feel it went nice too,” Latu mentioned. “Particularly my boy Joe Tryon-Shoyinka over there, I’d like to play alongside him. It went nice.”
Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu – Picture by: USA At this time
Latu went out of his technique to point out Tryon-Shoyinka, who was his teammate at Washington in 2019 when he was a freshman and Tryon-Shoyinka was a sophomore. Tampa Bay has proven a propensity for buying former Huskies, whether or not that’s Tryon-Shoyinka, Vita Vea, Cade Otton, or Greg Gaines.
He did later make clear that it was a proper assembly with the Bucs and spoke on how he would slot in Todd Bowles’ protection.
“They bought Vita Vea inside, a extremely good nostril deal with,” Latu mentioned. “I really feel like I’d slot in effectively, I’d get these one-one-ones on the surface and particularly taking part in with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, he was a giant bro to me once I was at Washington — taking me below his wing, exhibiting me what success seems like. To be there with him can be inspiring in addition to motivational.”
Again in 2019, Latu was simply getting his toes moist, showing in eight video games and notching half a sack. He then would go on fairly a journey to get again to taking part in faculty soccer.
Laiatu Latu Does Not Take Something For Granted On The Soccer Subject
Heading into his sophomore season, Laiatu Latu suffered a severe neck damage and in 2021, he medically retired from soccer. After being cleared to renew his taking part in profession, Latu selected to remain on the West Coast and switch to UCLA.
When discussing his path to get right here, he spoke concerning the time when he needed to sit out from the sport he liked.
UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu – Picture by: USA At this time
“I by no means let it get the most effective of me,” Latu mentioned. “I repeatedly labored out, bought stronger, labored on my cross rush strikes, and stuff like that. Actually simply locked in and by no means gave up on my desires. I had desires of being on this second, being within the NFL as a child and I by no means gave up on that. God was with me via all of it and He blessed me to be right here on this second.”
Since returning to motion, Latu has been a menace for opposing offensive tackles and the quarterbacks who try to flee his grasp. In 2022, he recorded 10.5 sacks and three pressured fumbles earlier than rising his sack output to 13 final 12 months whereas including two pressured fumbles and interceptions apiece.
He approached every recreation prefer it was his final, retaining in thoughts to not take any a part of his expertise with no consideration.
“I didn’t develop the saying however there’s a saying, ‘Like your final,’” Latu mentioned relating to his mindset. “I take that into the classroom, I take that into the assembly room, I’m writing on the prime of my notes — actually simply reminding me to do the whole lot prefer it’s your final. Not even simply taking part in soccer, however once I’m learning and stuff like that, simply know that this may very well be my final alternative to do it and this may very well be my final time doing it. Give all of it you bought.”
Laiatu Latu’s Strikes, Manufacturing Ought to Intrigue Bucs
With how he has fared getting his soccer profession again on observe, loads of groups must be within the 6-4, 261-pound edge rusher. That features the Bucs. The one factor which will knock him down the board is the priority surrounding his neck damage, and if he have been to fall throughout the vary, Tampa Bay may choose him, it might be a no brainer including him to a younger exterior linebacker room.
Bucs GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Adam Slivon/PR
Whereas basic supervisor Jason Licht sounded comfy concerning the in-house choices on the roster, a rising cross rusher with double-digit sack potential is difficult to disregard. Laiatu Latu sees his profession persevering with to development upward.
“Simply the truth that I carry on rising as a participant, as an individual, as a person on and off the sector,” Latu mentioned. “That you just repeatedly see me get higher and hit these double-digit sacks yearly.”
One have a look at his movie or highlights showcases how he might be profitable. He has very good bend and is ready to use his finesse to beat offensive linemen and get to the backfield in a rush.
“It’s my bending capacity on the prime of the frenzy,” Latu mentioned when requested about his greatest skills. “Having the ability to get below these tackles made it laborious for them to counter again and block me on the prime of the frenzy. It’s the euro chop after which the bend is me simply getting below the tackles and type of launching myself in direction of that quarterback, getting as tight to the bottom as I can.”
As is the case with a number of the different younger star Bucs’ defensive gamers, Laiatu Latu nonetheless has numerous room to develop and develop. It’s not stunning that the crew formally met with him, and he’s one title to bear in mind within the weeks main as much as the 2024 NFL Draft.
