He played college football for the Washington Huskies and UCLA Bruins, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi Awards with the latter in 2023.
[1][2] As a junior he earned accolades playing both ways — as a tight end on offense and an outside linebacker on defense, also making significant contributions as a member of Jesuit's special teams.
[3] Marauders head coach Marion Blanton characterized Latu as a "solid young man" who was "very coachable.
[4] Standing 6'5" and weighing 245 pounds as a senior, Latu was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Washington over offers from UCLA, USC, Oregon, Stanford, and Alabama.
Huskies' head coach Jimmy Lake announced that Latu had been forced by injury to retire for medical reasons at the start of spring practices in 2021.
[11] Latu sought to continue his career as a player, however, and spent the next four months attempting to gain medical clearance to play elsewhere and searching for a college program that would take a chance on him given his previous injury.
[12] With the assistance of his position coach at Washington, Latu sought multiple additional medical opinions from around the country,[13] including one from Dr. Robert Watkins of Marina del Rey, California.
[12] In September 2021, Latu traveled to California to be examined by Watkins, who subsequently gave him medical clearance to play football again.
[12] Coach Malloe was subsequently hired by UCLA and was surprised to learn that his new team already referred players to Dr. Watkins as necessary,[13] thus providing bona fides for the medical clearance and opening the door for him to become a member of the Bruins.
[23] According to Colts area scout Chris McGaha, the team's decision to select Latu revolved both around his complete love of the game, exemplified by his battle to return from injury, and his physical gifts.