Cameron Latu
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Cameron Latu
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Philadelphia Eagles
| number = 49
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|2|24}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 244
| high_school = Olympus {{avoid wrap|(Holladay, Utah)}}
| college = Alabama (2018–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 101
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Receiving average
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue4 =
| pfr = LatuCa01
}}
Cameron Latu (born February 24, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Early life
Latu was born in Los Angeles, California to Jillene Argust and Viliami Latu. He moved to Chisholm, MN at the age of 2. He has a fraternal twin brother named Nathan, who played football at Oklahoma State at defensive end and is currently a NFL free agent,{{Cite web |last=Hutchens |first=Ben |date=September 15, 2023 |title=OSU’s Nathan Latu is a football twin charting his own path |url=https://selloutcrowd.com/oklahoma-state/2023/09/15/osus-nathan-latu-is-a-football-twin-charting-his-own-path/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Sellout Crowd}} and an older brother, Sioka. Growing up, he initially played football, basketball and track and field.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/2021/09/10/cameron-latu-81-facts-alabama-football-tight-end/8269768002/|title=Cameron Latu: 3 things to know about the Alabama Crimson Tide football tight end|first=Erik|last=Hall|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=September 10, 2021|access-date=September 11, 2021}} His family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2013, and he attended Olympus High School.{{cite web|url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4413632&itype=CMSID|title=Prep football: Olympus' Latu brothers are identical twins with distinctly different identities|first=Trevor|last=Phibbs|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=September 7, 2021}}
As a junior, he recorded 65 tackles with 20 tackles for loss and nine sacks on defense as well as 14 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball, helping lead the team to a 8–3 record and playoff berth.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2017/08/4-star_utah_de_cameron_latu_co.html|title=4-star Utah DE Cameron Latu commits to Alabama|first=Drew|last=Champlin|website=AL.com|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}} He had originally committed to play at BYU along with his identical twin brother but reopened his commitment after a senior year where he had 45 tackles with 8 tackles for loss and 3 sacks on defense and 10 catches for 168 yards and 1 touchdown, 5 rushes for 34 yards rushing on offense and a kick return for 75 yards on special teams.{{cite web|last=Zenitz|first=Matt|date=May 23, 2018|title=Rugby has helped 4-star LB prepare for Alabama|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2018/05/rugby_has_helped_4-star_lb_pre.html|access-date=September 7, 2021|website=AL.com}} Latu committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from Nebraska, USC, Utah, and 19 other schools.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Maddie |date=August 4, 2017 |title=Prep football: Olympus defensive end Cameron Latu chooses Alabama |url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/high-school-sports/2017/08/04/prep-football-olympus-tight-end-chooses-college/ |access-date=September 7, 2021 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}
College career
In 2018, Latu redshirted his true freshman season after playing in two games and recording a tackle in his college debut against Louisville.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/alabama-new-weapon-tight-end|title=Alabama may have a new weapon at tight end|first=Megan|last=Turner|website=FoxNews.com|date=August 24, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}}
In 2019, Latu moved positions from linebacker to tight end before his redshirt freshman season to add much needed depth for the Crimson Tide.{{Cite web |last=Tsoukalas |first=Tony |date=August 25, 2021 |title=TideIllustrated - Cameron Latu offers optimism for an Alabama tight end unit facing turmoil |url=https://alabama.rivals.com/news/cameron-latu-offers-optimism-for-an-alabama-tight-end-unit-facing-turmoil |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Rivals.com}} Latu would see time in 11 games, mostly on special teams.
In 2020, Latu played primarily on special teams, and began to carve out a role at tight end as a redshirt sophomore, playing in 12 games.{{Cite web |last=Hollowell |first=Kendell |date=April 4, 2021 |title=Cameron Latu Is Off To a Strong Start This Spring |url=https://tide1009.com/cameron-latu-is-off-to-a-strong-start-this-spring/ |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Tide 100.9}}
In 2021, Latu was named the Crimson Tide's starting tight end going into his redshirt junior season. Latu caught three passes for 43 yards with two touchdowns in a 44–13 win over Miami in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Ryan |date=September 4, 2021 |title=Alabama football: What Nick Saban said about Cameron Latu after Miami game |url=https://www.deseret.com/2021/9/4/22657773/what-nick-saban-said-after-utahn-cameron-latu-2-td-performance-for-alabama-vs-miami |access-date=September 6, 2021 |work=Deseret News}}{{Cite web |last=Spurr |first=AJ |date=September 4, 2021 |title=WATCH: Cameron Latu breaks tackles, hits nasty stiff arm en route to endzone |url=https://news.yahoo.com/watch-cameron-latu-breaks-tackles-210141868.html |access-date=September 6, 2021 |website=Yahoo! Sports}} Against Southern Miss, Latu scored a touchdown by standing in the end zone and picking up a ball fumbled by John Metchie.{{Cite web |last=Spurr |first=AJ |date=September 26, 2021 |title=WATCH: Cameron Latu picks up football in end zone, scores touchdown |url=https://rolltidewire.usatoday.com/2021/09/25/alabama-football-crimson-tide-cameron-latu-scores-td-on-fumble-recovery/ |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=Roll Tide Wire|publisher=USA Today}} Latu would finish his redshirt junior season with a strong showing against Georgia in the College Football Championship game with a career high five catches for 102 yards and one touchdown after Jameson Williams went down with a knee injury.{{Cite web |last=Coles |first=Joe |date=January 11, 2022 |title=Utahn Cameron Latu scores a touchdown in college football national championship game |url=https://www.deseret.com/high-school-sports/2022/1/10/22877792/utahn-cameron-latu-scores-a-touchdown-in-college-football-national-championship-game-alabama |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=Deseret News}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 3/8
| weight = 242
| dash = 4.78
| ten split = 1.66
| twenty split = 2.69
| shuttle = 4.32
| cone drill = 7.31
| vertical = 32.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 14
| arm span = 32 3/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/cameron-latu/32004c41-5471-8773-4cf1-b41246d16b16 |title=Cameron Latu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 26, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027584&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Cameron Latu College Football Profile |access-date=April 26, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
Latu was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round, 101st overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web|last=McDonald|first=Briana|title=49ers Select TE Cameron Latu with the No. 101 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/cameron-latu-nfl-draft-2023-tight-end-alabama-pick-101-stats|website=49ers.com|date=April 29, 2023|access-date=April 30, 2023}} Latu suffered a torn meniscus during week 3 of the preseason and was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023, effectively ending his first season in the NFL.{{Cite web |last=Smoot |first=Brody |date=2023-08-30 |title=San Francisco 49ers place former Alabama tight end Cameron Latu on Injured Reserve |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/san-francisco-49ers-place-former-200207946.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |work=Yahoo Sports}}{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2023 |title=49ers Announce Moves for Initial 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-announce-moves-for-initial-53-man-roster |access-date=September 16, 2023 |website=49ers.com}}
Latu was waived by the 49ers on August 27, 2024.{{cite web|title=49ers Announce Moves for Initial 53-Man Roster of 2024|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-announce-moves-for-initial-53-man-roster-of-2024-released-waived-pup-injured-reserve-list|website=49ers.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On August 29, 2024, Latu was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.{{cite web|title=Browns sign RB D'Onta Foreman, add five to practice squad|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-rb-d-onta-foreman-add-five-to-practice-squad|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=August 29, 2024}} He was released on December 17.{{cite web |title=Cameron Latu: Let go by Cleveland |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/cameron-latu-let-go-by-cleveland/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=18 December 2024}} On December 31, the Browns re-signed Latu to their practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Ely |date=December 31, 2024 |title=NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/31/24 |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2024/12/nfl-practice-squad-updates-12-31-24 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On January 21, 2025, Latu signed a reserve/future contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Eagles sign TE Cameron Latu to Reserve/Future deal|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/roster-moves-eagles-sign-cameron-latu|website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com|date=January 21, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/players-roster/cameron-latu/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
- [https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/cameron-latu/7270 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{49ers2023DraftPicks}}
{{Philadelphia Eagles roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Latu, Cameron}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Players of American football from Salt Lake City
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football