Rookie DL Jonah Laulu ready to play multiple positions in Colts defense

The Indianapolis Colts selected former Oklahoma defensive lineman Jonah Laulu with the No. 234 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Laulu is a versatile defender who played both inside and outside for the Sooners after transferring to the program from Hawaii.

Laulu recently spoke exclusively with Horseshoe hug and discussed his pre-draft experience with the Colts, and was even willing to share the vision and role the coaching staff sees him playing on defense in 2024.

Laulu also discussed his first meetings with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, his experience during last week’s rookie minicamp, and more.

JM: The Indianapolis Colts drafted you in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Did you receive a lot of interest from them, or did it surprise you?

Laulu: I received a little interest from them, but it was mostly a surprise. I was still quite shocked. I didn’t really know if I was going to get drafted or not. I might have gone the undrafted free agency route.

But it was quite a phone call to receive (laughs). It was such an incredible moment for me and my family.

JM: I bet. Which teams do you think showed more interest in you than the Colts throughout the pre-draft process?

Laulu: I felt like the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots were showing a lot of interest. Many teams showed interest before the draft.

JM: The Colts were a bit of a surprise then. You recently signed your rookie contract and participated in rookie minicamp. What was your first taste of the NFL like?

Laulu: It was very cool. I have a great coaching job in Charlie Partridge. Other coaches, such as Kalon Humphrey and (defensive line assistant) Matt Raich have also been very helpful. We have great coaches in our defensive line room.

Coach Partridge is awesome. He already pours so much into us. They really put a lot of effort into our development. To think that I’m in the NFL and I’m coached by these guys, it’s really cool (laughs). They prepare me to play and contribute. So far it has been an incredible experience.

JM: What was the biggest lesson you learned at rookie minicamp? You are acclimatizing to professional football.

Laulu: Professional football is extremely technical. I would say that first and foremost. It’s very, very technical. You have to fine-tune the little details of your game if you want to be great in this league.

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JM: Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge coached Trey Flowers, JJ Watt and others. He has so much experience and knowledge. You mentioned it briefly, but I want to expand on it. What is your relationship with Coach Partridge so far?

Laulu: He is an excellent coach. He stays above us. Thanks to his way of coaching, his personality and his overall approach to teaching, it is much easier to absorb what he says. Even when he criticizes you, he will never say that you are bad at something. Anyway, I don’t think I’m bad at anything (laughs).

Coach Partridge is simply a great coach. As far as his personality, the way he coaches, it makes me want to play even harder for him. That’s the kind of man he is.

JM: What was the No. 1 thing he tried to teach you at rookie minicamp? What have you spent the most time working on?

Laulu: For me personally, we spent a lot of time working on my passing by stringing together passing moves on opposing offensive linemen. I need to do a better job to get past them.

I can’t slow down, especially when I disengage all together. This is what we have been working on. We put a lot of emphasis on being more efficient during my time at rookie minicamp.

JM: Has the coaching staff discussed the role or positions they see you playing on the defensive line?

Laulu: They see me playing an interior defensive line position in our scheme. I will play different variations of defensive tackle. They see me playing 3-tech and 2i. I will play several positions.

JM: I’m sure defensive coordinator Gus Bradley likes that versatility. You have so many great teammates in this defensive line room and you will meet them all soon, if you haven’t already. Who are you looking forward to learning from?

Laulu: I look forward to learning from everyone. We have some very experienced players in our room such as DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. I can’t wait to pick their brains. I already ask them questions in training. They already told me that I could ask them any questions I had.

I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see how they train. I will closely monitor their habits. I’ve been watching these guys (Buckner and Stewart) for a long time. Even the guys that play outside for us, we have a lot of talent. I can’t believe they’re my teammates now. It’s crazy.

JM: We appreciated your time today. What is the goal for Jonah Laulu’s rookie season in 2024?

Laulu: My goal is to continue to improve every day. I want to gain the trust of my teammates and the technical staff. I want to be a guy they can count on to contribute this season.

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