Indianapolis Colts select Jesuit High School’s Laiatu Latu with No. 15 pick in NFL Draft

Laiatu Latu of Jesuit High School roots and UCLA football fame was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rush-end specialist, who sparkled his final two seasons at UCLA after a medical retirement nearly derailed his career, was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 15th overall pick. Latu is the 15th Sacramento-area product to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, dating back to 1978. He is the second defensive lineman on that list, joining Reggie Rogers of since-closed Norte Del Rio High School, who went seventh overall to the Detroit Lions in 1987.

Latu was a Sacramento Bee All-Metro player in 2018 at Jesuit who accepted a scholarship to Washington. He did not play any downs for the Huskies and was announced as a medical retiree by Washington just before his sophomore season due to a neck injury.

Latu sought a second opinion, had his neck fused and dominated as a sack specialist during his final two seasons at UCLA. He had 12½ sacks in 2022 and 13 in 2023.

Known for his relentless drive and athleticism, Latu in 2023 became UCLA’s first Lombardi award and Ted Hendricks award winner for defensive-line excellence. He led the nation with 1.8 tackles for loss per game in 2023 while earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American honors.

Latu was invited to the green room at the draft in Detroit. He cheerfully jumped up to hug friends and family when he received the official draft call. He was decked in a suit and sunglasses. Latu removed the glasses when he entered the draft stage, then hugged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who presented the rookie-to-be with a Colts jersey No. 1.

Latu’s coach with the Colts is former Oak Ridge High School star quarterback and longtime NFL assistant coach Shane Steichen.

FROM SACRAMENTO TO THE NFL

The Sacramento region has produced 15 first-round picks in the NFL Draft. Here’s the list with their draft year, position, high school, NFL team and draft position:

2024: DE Laiatu Latu, Jesuit, Indianapolis Colts, 15th

2019: OL Jonah Williams, Folsom, Cincinnati Bengals, 11th

2018: OL Kolton Miller, Roseville, Oakland Raiders, 15th

2015: DL Arik Armstead, Pleasant Grove, San Francisco 49ers, 17th

2015: LB Shaq Thompson, Grant, Carolina Panthers, 25th

2002: WR Donte Stallworth, Grant, New Orleans Saints, 13th

1997: WR Rae Carruth, Valley, Carolina Panthers, 27th

1987: DL Reggie Rogers, Norte Del Rio, Detroit Lions, 7th

1985: OL Trevor Matich, Rio Americano, New England Patriots, 28th

1984: CB Don Rogers, Norte Del Rio, Cleveland Browns, 18th

1983: QB Tony Eason, Delta, New England Patriots, 15th

1983: QB Ken O’Brien, Jesuit, New York Jets, 24th

1982: RB Gerald Willhite, Cordova, Denver Broncos, 21st

1978: OL Gordon King, Bella Vista, New York Giants, 10th

1978: LB Dan Bunz, Oakmont, San Francisco 49ers, 24th

▪ Receiver Brandon Aiyuk of Sierra College in Rocklin was picked 25th overall by the 49ers in 2020, but he did not attend a local high school.