In yesterday's countdown spotlight, we looked at the most esteemed Sun Devil in history, Pat Tillman. Today, with 41 days left until Sun Devil football returns, we look at another defender who frequently flew around the football field: Viliami Latu.
Latu may not have as widely recognized a name as the legendary Tillman, but those who watched the Todd Graham era of Arizona State football surely remember his name. He was a force to be reckoned with on every down.
Latu was part of Graham's first full recruiting class in Tempe, and he was a big signing. One of four 4-star recruits, including Jaelen Strong and Marcus Hardison, Latu committed to Arizona State out of Rancho Cucamonga, California. His twin brother Alani also committed to the Sun Devils.
Viliami Latu scoops up the fumble caused by @13igDuke and rumbles down the field! #ForksUp #SeniorDay pic.twitter.com/EffKToSM6U
— Cactus Ranch (@CRanch) November 23, 2014
Coming in with so much raw talent, Latu saw the field right away as a true freshmman. He mostly played on special teams, but got in on defense on a frew sub packages, and even recovered a fumble in a blowout win against Colorado.
Going into the 2014 season, Latu gained a role in the rotation among the linebackers in Graham's 3-3-5 defense. Latu would finish the year with 24 tackles, but he had a milestone achievement with his first career sack coming in a blowout win over Notre Dame that catapulted Arizona State to sixth in the polls.
Over the next two seasons, Latu played a sort of hybrid role, alternating between a defensive end and an outside linebacker. The position change led to fewer opportunities for Latu to rack up gaudy stats, but he still played a pivotal role, often being asked to anchor the line of scrimmage and set the edge against running plays.
Latu ended his college career with 62 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. The numbers don't fully convey his impact, though, with Latu constantly wreaking havoc in the backfield and blowing up multiple run plays each game. He was one of Arizona State's most sure tacklers over that stretch, too, serving as a key enforcer for a defense that tailed off in production not long after Latu graduated.
In the end, Latu may not be the first or even second name that fans point to when thinking about the highs of the Graham era, but he played a crucial role in building that program. Latu's play style is what every defensive coordinator looks for, and what Arizona State hopes to have plenty of in 41 days when the season kicks off.