What are the Ducks getting in Peter Latu?

What are the Ducks getting in Peter Latu?

Recruiting / Sunday, March 10th, 2019

With a top ten finish in the national recruiting rankings – the first in school history – coming during the 2019 recruiting cycle, the standard for future recruiting classes has been set by head coach Mario Cristobal and the Oregon coaching staff. And while more than eight months remain between now and when recruits from the 2020 class can sign a letter of intent in December, the ground work is already being laid in hopes of duplicating Oregon’s top-ranked finish in the Pac-12 recruiting standings.

On Sunday, the Ducks took a quality step in the right direction with the verbal commitment of Spanaway (Wash.) Bethel three-star linebacker Peter Latu, who joins four-star defensive back Avantae Williams and three-star tight end Seth Figgins as the newest member of Oregon’s 2020 recruiting class.

Latu commits to Oregon over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, and Tennessee.

With his commitment, the Ducks now claim the nation’s 26th-best recruiting class per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings, and are second behind Stanford in 247’s Pac-12 rankings.

Below we take a closer look at Latu’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

  • Body needs to develop: Listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Latu already has a strong foundation for future development at linebacker. Development, however, is the operative word here. Latu still has a good bit of physical maturation to undergo before truly rounding into form.
  • Raw as a linebacker: Going somewhat hand-in-hand with Latu’s physical development is Latu’s “greenness” as a linebacker. Having spent time as a wide receiver and safety at the prep level, Latu’s ability to transition to linebacker and pick up the nuances of the position will likely determine how quickly he is able to make an impact at the next level.

Notable strengths:

  • Versatile athlete: Arguably the most striking quality about Latu is the versatility he exhibits as a football player. Whether it’s as a safety, receiver, or return man, Latu flashes impressive athleticism and natural ability lining up at a number of positions. Though linebacker appears to be his future position, Latu is dynamic enough to be deployed with effectiveness all over the field.
  • Plays with physicality: Latu’s well-rounded game is also highlighted by a willingness to punish ball carriers who cross his face mask. His strength as a tackler is still a work in progress, but he demonstrates quality base skills that project favorably to linebacker.
  • Solid coverage skills: Given his experience as a safety, Latu possesses keen coverage instincts and a comfort level in space that will give him a leg up whenever he arrives on campus. Combined with his length and athleticism, these are qualities that will keep him on the field in passing situations.

Overall outlook:

After loading up on linebackers during the 2019 recruiting cycle, the Ducks have dipped into the linebacker market once again with the addition of Peter Latu to the 2020 class. The West Coast is teeming with quality talent at linebacker this cycle, and while Latu isn’t necessarily the household name compared to some of his more highly-rated counterparts, he showcases an intriguing array of skills that could allow him to achieve his remarkable upside. Considering the talent that figures to be on the roster at linebacker in 2020, Latu is a strong bet to be a redshirt candidate in his first season on campus. However, with a couple seasons of skill development and physical maturation, Latu no doubt has the tools to become a reliable contributor for this Oregon defense.

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