The Huskies closed the deal with California 4-star defensive end, Laiatu Latu on the eve of signing day. The 6-5, 272 lb. rush-end was in Seattle over the weekend, and that’s all she wrote…
Latu caps off the highest ranked DL class Washington has ever landed.
“The brotherhood and culture was there 100%. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly”, Latu said of the Husky experience and how this tipped the scales for him, “It was home”.
This was a recurring theme over the weekend with all who visited Washington, but most of those guys were already committed — and so Latu formed friendships and bonds and this made a huge difference for him.
As for how big this is for Washington? They’ve been in serious need of a rush-end for several years. In the last two recruiting cycles Washington has zeroed in on guys who could perfectly play that spot and yet they went elsewhere — this year they got their men: Bralen Trice, and now Laiatu Latu.
Latu is ranked #6 nationally at his position and, while it’s a huge gain for Washington, it’s a huge loss for USC. Rumor had it that they backed off on Kayvon Thibodeaux because they thought they were getting Latu.
There were even reports he was a “silent commit” to the Trojans. But Washington choreographed this perfectly by spending the past few months establishing a close bond with Latu, and then getting that coveted last trip before signing day.
