Colts Rookie Watch 2024: Laiatu Latu is a ‘timeout waiting to happen’

Laiatu Latu is good, he’s really good.  In the team’s final preseason game on Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts rookie edge rusher was one of the players to shine in the 27-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals recording his first sack in the NFL.

Although just the preseason, it is always good for a team to see the hype of a highly drafted player play out on the field. 

Utilizing the speed and athleticism he has displayed at UCLA and all through training camp, Latu blew past Bengals’ tackle Cody Ford to get to the quarterback. The sack came on third down and is the type of play Colts head coach Shane Steichen could get used to.

“It was great,” Steichen said of the sack.  “That guy’s been working his tail off since he got here, and to go get that sack, it was big.  He can rush the passer like crazy.  I’m looking forward to the season for him, for sure.”

Laiatu Latu is ready to break out in his rookie season

That quickness of Latu displayed to get to the quarterback will provide nightmares in the AFC South for opposing quarterbacks.  With the talent of those signal callers within the division, the Colts young rookie will have to be good to help anchor a Colts’ defense looking to be more aggressive in 2024.  Again, it was the preseason, but coaches and teammates already love what they see in Latu, especially veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin who has been impressed with the pass rushing machine.

“He’s been cooking,” Franklin said.  “He’s a timeout waiting to happen.  In my opinion he’s a hell of a player.”

That must be one of the greatest complements for a first-year defensive stud who has been performing at a high-level during training camp.  Seeing that play out in a live game situation just adds to the hype surrounding a player who entered the 2024 NFL Draft as one of the top edge rush prospects in the nation and he showed why on Thursday night.

With edge rusher Samson Ebukam sidelined, there will be a bigger role and opportunity for Latu to shine in his rookie season.  Will his presence on the edge cause opposing quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud to watch wherever he lines up on defense?  If his talent and how he has played in camp translates on the field once the regular season gets underway, it’s safe to say he will be the type of player team’s gameplan for and a player who will cause teams to call a time out to make sure the offensive line is in position to block him.  Heck, it may not even matter given his ability.