It took some time for the reality that he was an NFL player to hit Laiatu Latu. Not on draft night, not when he first showed up to the Colts facility, not when he first tried his uniform on. It wasn't until OTAs, in May, when Latu finally began to process that he was about to start his NFL career.
Now, with his first NFL training camp and preseason games under his belt, the rookie defensive end has an even better understanding of what his new job is. But what's that saying? If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life?
Few people encapsulate that better than Latu.
"It doesn't even feel like a job, because I love what I do," Latu said Sunday, speaking to media with a grin on his face. "So being able to come into the building, do what I do with the best of the best has been a blessing and a privilege, and something that I love to do."
Latu embraces the pressure and the expectations that come with being the No. 15 overall pick, because showing up and playing good football is "literally his job." He's been thrown right in the fire, getting consistent reps during practices and the Colts' preseason games and working right next to starters like four-year veteran defensive end Kwity Paye and two-time AP All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. He wouldn't have it any other way.
"I mean, he's just probably going to win like 100 percent of the time," Latu said about playing next to Buckner. "So I've got to be able to work off of him and stuff like that. But I mean it gives me more confidence and like more – I won't say, reassurance, but it makes me go even harder being on the end right next to him."
Latu's hard work paid off in the Colts' preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, as the rookie recorded his first NFL sack on the first drive of the game. And he was rushing right next to Buckner on that play.
"It felt really good," Latu said about the sack. "It felt really good rushing right by Buck too."
Buckner and the rest of the defensive line have taken Latu under their wing, Latu said, helping him with everything and anything. But Latu found himself going to one player more than others: Paye.
Both are defensive ends and were chosen in the first round of their respective drafts, so Latu's found he can pick the veteran's brain about just about anything.
"He's been somebody that's been giving pointers on the field (and) off the field in terms of recovery and then ways to look at my rush differently or look at the run differently," Latu said. "He's been a real big brother to me."
In being surrounded by such a strong and experienced defensive line, Latu's aspirations for this season and his career – which were already high – only continue to grow. The standard is, unsurprisingly, a Super Bowl ring (at least one) and spot in the Hall of Fame, with the golden jacket that comes with it. He's not the only one in his position room with those kind of goals, and he's only getting better because of it.
"I've already got Buck and Grove (Grover Stewart) and all those dudes in the room that have been doing it, that are still doing it," Latu said. "So that gives me all the more confidence and drive to be the best that I can."
While he's not fighting for a roster spot, Latu is still working as hard as he can every day to show what he's capable of and improve his game, just like everyone around him.
"Shoot, I'm okay with whatever position I take on this team," Latu said. "As long as it's being contributed to a winning atmosphere."
