“We got the best f**king rusher in the draft!” ‘Hysterical’ Chris Ballard couldn’t stop laughing after no defensive players were taken initially resulting in Colts immediately picking Laiatu Latu 15th overall

After an amazing senior year of college football in which he had more than 10 sacks, Laiatu Latu became the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“We got the best f**king rusher in the draft!” ‘Hysterical’ Chris Ballard couldn’t stop laughing after no defensive players were taken initially resulting in Colts immediately picking Laiatu Latu 15th overall

Colts general manager Chris Ballard laughed after taking UCLA DE Laiatu Latu at 15th overall in 2024 NFL Draft (Image via IMAGO)

Chris Ballard could not believe his luck on day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. In his own words, the Indianapolis Colts bagged the best pass rusher in college football, i.e., Laiatu Latu.

The Colts selected him 15th overall. Before Latu, every single player drafted was an offensive player. From the Chicago Bears taking Caleb Williams at first overall to the New Orleans Saints selecting offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga at 14, after a long time, this many offensive players were off-board back to back.

This allowed Indianapolis Colts‘ general manager Chris Ballard to secure UCLA alumnus Laiatu Latu. A video later surfaced from the Colts’ war room, which showed Ballard laughing in joy with what he had managed to pull off.

FS Video
We got the best f**king rusher in the draft.
Chris Ballard said

Latu signed a guaranteed 4-year $17.031 million contract with a $9.3 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.

Laiatu Latu was surprised the Colts picked him

Sometimes the best things happen by chance. The best example perhaps could be Brock Purdy, who was close to being an undrafted free agent until the 49ers made him the last pick of the 2022 draft. Latu may not be in the same boat, but he wasn’t expecting to be picked that high or by the Colts.

"We got the best f**king rusher in the draft!" 'Hysterical' Chris Ballard couldn't stop laughing after no defensive players were taken initially resulting in Colts immediately picking Laiatu Latu 15th overall
UCLA linebacker Laiatu Latu (#15) against the California Golden Bears (image via IMAGO)
I wasn't even expecting to get picked up by the Colts, honestly. I didn't talk to them my whole pre-draft. [Then] that phone call came from Indianapolis, and I was just like, 'Dang' [because my agent told me not to worry about the next couple of picks], and then I get the phone, and I'm a Colt.
Laiatu Latu said per the Colts’ official website

The NFL.com’s draft calculator projected that the 6-foot-5 linebacker would be a mid-20s pick on day 1. With so many offensive players taken before him, Latu’s chances went up.

Latu’s almost retired from football in college

After finishing school in Sacramento, the 23-year-old moved to DC to play for the Washington Huskies in 2019. A year later, during the peak COVID-19 time, Latu suffered a neck injury during fall practices. A team of doctors in Washington concluded that his injury was severe enough that he should contemplate retiring. He was forced out of football in 2021.

However, Latu chose to take another shot at the sport he loved and moved to California to play for UCLA. He was an instant starter for the Bruins and was named PAC-12 defensive player of the year in his first season.

Latu exceeded expectations during his senior year of college football. He played all 12 games, leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8), along with racking up the fourth-best sack numbers (13) in the country. He was the first UCLA player to win both the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award.

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