SACRAMENTO – The Jesuit community is invited to join us for a short celebration in the Barry Gym this Friday, March 8, at 2:00 p.m. as the Jesuit school community welcomes back former Marauder football and rugby star Laiatu Latu, fresh off his successful appearance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last week. The class of 2019 alum and his family will be on campus for a special assembly of fellow student-athletes and friends to celebrate his momentous achievements and cheer him on for the road ahead. Representatives of the Lombardi Award committee from Houston, Texas, and local Rotarians will also address the group and share a highlight video to share the excitement around the 50th Lombardi Award recipient and the legacy of the award.

WHAT:    Celebration event for NFL top draft prospect & Lombardi Award winner Laiatu Latu

WHEN:    Friday, March 8, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. 

WHERE:  Jesuit High School Gymnasium | 4660 Fair Oaks Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95864

WHO:   Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruin and Jesuit Sacramento class of 2019 alum, Jesuit High School community, Lombardi Award representatives. At 6′4″ and 265 pounds, Latu was a four-star prospect and the most heavily recruited Marauder in program history since Jesuit High School opened in 1963.

MORE:   As part of his visit, Latu will bring his 2023 Lombardi Award, a trophy he won for his dynamic and impactful final season at UCLA. Latu became the first player in UCLA history to win the prestigious Lombardi Award given to the best college lineman in the country. The connection of being at a Jesuit school is significant as Coach Vince Lombardi is a graduate of Fordham University and a devout Catholic. 

“We are so excited to go to Laiatu’s Jesuit High School and celebrate his outstanding achievements with his hometown community where it all started,” says Vicki Brentin, chair of the 50th Lombardi Award ceremony. “It’s easy to see how he’s left a lasting impact everywhere he’s been…since he did that to us and our organization when we interacted with him back in December.”

The Rotary Club of Houston presents the Lombardi Award with charitable proceeds benefiting cancer research.

During his 2023 season with UCLA, Latu recorded 49 total tackles and led the PAC 12 in sacks with 13 while also forcing two fumbles. During his time with Jesuit, he had 176 total tackles, 356 receiving yards, and 27 sacks. The two-sport athlete was also instrumental in helping the Jesuit rugby team win the national championship in 2017 and 2019. 

The Jesuit community is thrilled and honored to welcome this member of the brotherhood home. “At Jesuit, I learned a lot about the game (of football) and was able to hone my way of playing football while being a Marauder, but more importantly, I learned how to carry myself as a man. I credit Jesuit Head Football Coach Marlon Blanton for the culture, community, and “the journey” he has created around Jesuit Football. It will carry with me for a lifetime.” shared Latu.

Latu played football all four years at Jesuit – on varsity for three. At 6′4″ and 265 pounds, he was a four-star prospect and one of the most heavily recruited Marauders in program history since Jesuit opened in 1963, fielding offers from Washington, USC, Alabama, Georgia, Stanford, UCLA, Tennessee, Cal, Notre Dame, Arizona, Arizona St, Oregon St, Utah, and Vanderbilt.

ABOUT THE LOMBARDI AWARD

The history and significance of the Lombardi Award are deeply rooted in the legacy of Coach Vince Lombardi and his commitment to character, discipline, and excellence. Just weeks after Coach Vince Lombardi’s passing in 1970 due to colon cancer, the Rotary Club of Houston established the Lombardi Award with the authorization of Vince Lombardi’s widow, Marie, and his sister, Madeline Lombardi Werner.

​This prestigious accolade continues to honor the Outstanding College Football Lineman, whether on offense or defense, who displays exceptional performance and ability and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi championed throughout his life.

ABOUT JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL SACRAMENTO

Jesuit High School Sacramento is a regional Catholic high school that provides young men with a life-building experience and delivers an academically rigorous college-preparatory education to prepare graduates for lives of leadership and service. 

Home of “The Marauders,” Jesuit Sacramento has one of the region’s most successful men’s athletic programs, more than 22 visual and performing arts offerings, a robust Honors and Advanced Placement curriculum including the innovative international AP Capstone  Diploma Program, an award-winning robotics program, and a club for every passion. 

A Jesuit education fosters a “Men for Others” culture. Students volunteer locally and globally throughout the year and during summer immersion opportunities, giving more than 17,000 hours annually, primarily to at-risk, underserved, and homeless populations.