After three position changes and a 4000-mile transfer, Indianapolis Colts rookie Jonah Laulu used perseverance skills learned from his mother to reach the NFL.
Every player faces unforeseen challenges that will test whether or not they have what it takes to make it to the league. While some players may face challenges on the field, others face obstacles off it and in their personal lives.
Laulu was always a big kid for his age, leading him to success on the football field from an early age. He enrolled at Centennial High School in Las Vegas, where coaches wanted him to switch to the offensive line. But Laulu wanted to play tight end and have a chance to make plays with the ball in his hands.
Laulu earned all-conference honors as a senior despite only playing half the season. He was also a letterman in basketball and track, speaking to his athleticism. 2021 brought about a different coaching staff to Hawaii. Laulu performed well under the new coaching staff, racking up career highs with 34 tackles and four sacks, but not well enough. The defensive scheme was not a fit, and Laulu could feel his technique slipping. That was unacceptable for a kid who holds himself accountable, as Laulu does.
A new school also meant another new position. Head coach Brent Venables asked Laulu to move inside to defensive tackle, meaning he would need to add even more weight. Laulu agreed without hesitation, another example of his selflessness.. "He’s a great teammate. There are a lot of ways he’s made that inside position better, more accountable.”
After two years at Oklahoma, Laulu proved athletic enough to perform in the Big 12 despite little experience at his position. While the NFL had become a realistic possibility at the end of his time at Hawaii, it was even more real now. Laulu entered the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping a team would give him a shot.
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