WESTFIELD, Ind. – Imagine being the cashier at a local Target when two Colts defensive linemen recently rolled up with a shopping cart full of a delightful assortment of food.
Before they reported to training camp, Laiatu Latu and Jonah Laulu – the Colts' first and last picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, respectively – were commissioned by their veteran teammates to go buy snacks for the team's meeting room at Grand Park.
"Me and Jonah were just rolling through Target just literally grabbing everything," Latu said.
On the list: Hot Fries, Pringles, Honey Buns, Hi Chews, plenty of candy and sweet honey almonds, among other requests.
"Y'all heard of Zebra Cakes?" Latu asked during a press conference Wednesday, eliciting some blank stares from media members who weren't big on Little Debbie's offerings. "I never heard of Zebra Cakes but they love that."
This is more than a whimsical anecdote, though. For Latu, he's not approaching his training camp debut as if anything will be given to him, or as if he deserves any special treatment as the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
"I don't let my draft status affect me at all," Latu said. "I'm a rookie, I'm a newcomer, I'm the little dog. I look up to D-Buck (DeForest Buckner), I look up to all those vets and try to take after them as much as I can."
Latu was one of college football's most accomplished pass rushers over his two seasons at UCLA, during which he totaled 23 1/2 sacks, 129 pressures and 34 tackles for a loss. He spent time this offseason honing his repertoire of pass-rushing moves with pass rushing guru Eddy McGilvra, and also attended the "Sack Summit," an annual gathering of pass rushers put together by Buffalo Bills defensive end Von Miller.
With McGilvra, Latu worked with defensive end Kwity Paye and several of his Colts teammates, in addition to players like the Los Angeles Chargers' Khalil Mack. At the Sack Summit, Latu learned from accomplished pass rushers like Miller, the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby and the New Orleans Saints' Cam Jordan.
"The way they carry themselves and talk about the game, you know they're fully delved into the game," Latu said. "They're fully committed. And I'm learning more about myself just literally watching them and listening to them too, so I can't wait bring that to this training camp."
When Latu hits the field on Thursday for the Colts' first training camp practice of 2024, he'll do so looking to prove himself while not resting on his collegiate accomplishments or draft status. He's a rookie, after all, no matter where he was drafted. The only thing he'll expect handed to him is the receipt for all those Little Debbie snacks.
"I'm super excited to get out there and play," Latu said. "Definitely nerves are — I'm a little nervous, but I'm more excited than anything."
View arrival photos as the Colts report to Grand Park Sports Campus for the start of 2024 Colts Training Camp, presented by Koorsen Fire & Security.
Reggie Wayne Wide Receivers
Shane Steichen Head Coach
G Quenton Nelson #56
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DT DeForest Buckner #99
WR Derek Slywka #13
CB Clay Fields III #34
C/G Will Fries #75
Chris Ballard General Manager
RB Trent Pennix #36
T Blake Freeland #73
S Marcel Dabo #42
G Dalton Tucker #68
RB Trent Pennix #36
RB Zavier Scott #34
S Julian Blackmon #32
S Julian Blackmon #32
LB Liam Anderson #47
DE Tyquan Lewis #94
DE Tyquan Lewis #94
T Matt Goncalves #71
DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Kwity Paye #51
QB/WR Jason Bean #8
TE Will Mallory #86
S Kendell Brooks #36
CB Micah Abraham #33
CB Jaylin Simpson #30
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
K Spencer Shrader #3
K Spencer Shrader #3
RB Evan Hull #26
CB Jaylon Jones #40
C Wesley French #62
CB Jaylon Jones #40
CB Jaylon Jones #40
C Danny Pinter #63
G Tanor Bortolini #60
DT Eric Johnson II #93
WR Anthony Gould #6
DT Eric Johnson II #93
G Josh Sills #65
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
WR Adonai Mitchell #10
LB E.J. Speed #45
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
LB E.J. Speed #45
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
QB Sam Ehlinger #4
T Bernhard Raimann #79
T Bernhard Raimann #79
TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Drew Ogletree #85
LB Segun Olubi #50
TE Jelani Woods #80
TE Jelani Woods #80
CB Kenny Moore II #23
CB Kenny Moore II #23
CB Kenny Moore II #23
CB Kenny Moore II #23
S Trevor Denbow #43
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
DE Dayo Odeyingbo #54
T Braden Smith #72
T Braden Smith #72
S Daniel Scott #31 and WR Ethan Fernea #3
S Daniel Scott #31 and WR Ethan Fernea #3
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and LS Luke Rhodes #46
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8 and LS Luke Rhodes #46
P Rigoberto Sanchez #8, and LS Luke Rhodes #46
RB Trey Sermon #27
CB Chris Lammons #35
C Ryan Kelly #78
C Ryan Kelly #78
K Matt Gay #7
K Matt Gay #7
LB Austin Ajiake #58, DE Titus Leo #91 and TE Jordan Murray #84
LB Austin Ajiake #58,, DE Titus Leo #91 and TE Jordan Murray #84
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
LB Zaire Franklin #44
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Zaire Franklin #44
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Dallis Flowers #21
QB Joe Flacco #15
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
DE Samson Ebukam #52
LB Grant Stuard #41
LB Craig Young #49
LB Grant Stuard #41
DE Isaiah Land #55
DE Isaiah Land #55
DT Raekwon Davis #98 and CB Ameer Speed #37
DT Raekwon Davis #98 and CB Ameer Speed #37
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT Raekwon Davis #98
CB Ameer Speed #37
CB Ameer Speed #37 and DT Raekwon Davis #98
DT Raekwon Davis #98
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
QB Anthony Richardson #5
WR Ashton Dulin #16
DE Genard Avery #92
S Michael Tutsie #38
WR Juwann Winfree #9
CB Darrell Baker Jr. #39
DE Laiatu Latu #97 and DT Jonah Laulu #74
DT Jonah Laulu #74
DE Laiatu Latu #97
WR Josh Downs #1
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
RB Tyler Goodson #31
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
S Rodney Thomas II #25
S Ronnie Harrison Jr. #48
TE Kylen Granson #83
TE Kylen Granson #83
CB JuJu Brents #29
CB JuJu Brents #29
S Nick Cross #20
S Nick Cross #20
LB Craig Young #49
RB Trent Pennix #36
S Marcel Dabo #42
RB Zavier Scott #34
S Julian Blackmon #32
S Julian Blackmon #32
LB Liam Anderson #47
