TEMPE -- Sun Devil Football linebacker Alani "A. J." Latu has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2018 SPIRAL Tropical Bowl, as announced this week.
The Tropical Bowl gives scouts from both the NFL and CFL a chance to see some of the best players from FBS schools throughout the country. Latu will be the first Sun Devil on the roster since the inauguration of the game in 2016.
Latu is one of 198 players to accept an invitation, including seven players from Pac-12 teams.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Latu finished his senior season with 37 tackles - bringing his career total to 69 - and seven sacks. After having just 1.5 tackles for loss and no sacks in his career entering the season, Latu had 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks as a senior.
He matched a season-high with five tackles and also added two tackles for loss and a sack in the Territorial Cup victory over Arizona. He recorded a career-high 1.5 sacks against San Diego State (9/9) and matched that total against Colorado (11/4) and had a huge sack for a 12-yard loss and a forced fumble in the Sun Devils victory over No. 5 Washington (10/14).
Latu had 26 quarterback pressures on the season, helping ASU become one of just six programs in the country with at least four different linemen to reach 15 or more quarterback pressures on the season.
Latu and the rest of the SPIRAL Tropical Bowl invitees will compete on Jan. 14, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. For more information, visit www.tropicalbowl.com.
The Tropical Bowl gives scouts from both the NFL and CFL a chance to see some of the best players from FBS schools throughout the country. Latu will be the first Sun Devil on the roster since the inauguration of the game in 2016.
Latu is one of 198 players to accept an invitation, including seven players from Pac-12 teams.
Hailing from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Latu finished his senior season with 37 tackles - bringing his career total to 69 - and seven sacks. After having just 1.5 tackles for loss and no sacks in his career entering the season, Latu had 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks as a senior.
He matched a season-high with five tackles and also added two tackles for loss and a sack in the Territorial Cup victory over Arizona. He recorded a career-high 1.5 sacks against San Diego State (9/9) and matched that total against Colorado (11/4) and had a huge sack for a 12-yard loss and a forced fumble in the Sun Devils victory over No. 5 Washington (10/14).
Latu had 26 quarterback pressures on the season, helping ASU become one of just six programs in the country with at least four different linemen to reach 15 or more quarterback pressures on the season.
Latu and the rest of the SPIRAL Tropical Bowl invitees will compete on Jan. 14, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. For more information, visit www.tropicalbowl.com.