UW lands Keleki Latu, younger brother of Laiatu Latu, via transfer portal

On December 19, 2018, Laiatu Latu signed his letter of intent to play football for Washington.

Latu, of course, developed into one of the Pac-12’s most fearsome pass rushers, becoming the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL draft when he was picked by the Indianapolis Colts with the 15th pick. Just not at Washington. A neck injury suffered before the 2020 season led to Latu’s temporary retirement, but he reemerged at UCLA.

While Laiatu Latu didn’t get to finish his career at Washington, his brother Keleki Latu might.

Keleki Latu, a senior tight end who spent the past season at Nevada, announced his commitment to Washington late Sunday night. He’s the seventh transfer portal commit the Huskies have received this spring, and the third on Sunday alone.

Listed at 6-foot-7, 237 pounds, Keleki Latu was a three-star recruit in the class of 2021 after prepping at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, Calif. He was considered the No. 59 tight end in the country according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and a top-100 recruit in the state of California.

Keleki Latu had offers from USC, Oregon, Nebraska, Arizona State and Utah, among others, but chose to join California, where his position coach was former UW quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo.

He spent two seasons in Berkeley, Calif., playing in 10 games as a true freshman and making four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Keleki Latu appeared in 12 games as a sophomore during the 2022 season, adding 18 catches, 207 yards and another touchdown.

Keleki Latu entered the transfer portal before the 2023 season, heading to Nevada. He played six games for the Wolf Pack, making 14 catches for 179 yards.

Six games into the season Keleki Latu suffered a season-ending injury during Nevada’s rivalry game against UNLV.

Keleki Latu reentered the transfer portal on April 30, choosing the Huskies and UW tight ends coach Jordan Paopao. There’s opportunity to make an impact at Washington, too.

Sophomore Ryan Otton has played in two career games, while true freshmen Decker DeGraaf and Charlie Crowell have no college experience. Senior Quentin Moore is entering his sixth year of college football, but has just seven career receptions for 71 yards.

Keleki Latu committed on the same day Washington landed running back Jordan Washington and wide receiver Kevin Green Jr., both former Arizona players, also committed to the Huskies.