True freshman outside linebacker Samuel Lateju posted a series of photos on X about his first year loading for Wisconsin. The last picture had Wisconsin fans doing a double-take. Lateju is standing next to J.J. Watt, who is somewhere around 6'5" and 280lbs, and Lateju is shoulder to shoulder with him. Not just in height, but the biceps for Lateju are imposing.
So… a true freshman is making a 6-5 288LB Badgers legend look… not small.. but got daym.. that dude Samuel Lateju is ready to WORK this year!
— Ryan Eilers (@ryanbeilers) July 17, 2025
🫣🫣🫣🫣 #BADGERS https://t.co/NTEkiFpmjA
Samuel Lateju looks strong already as a true freshman in a picture next to J.J. Watt
J.J. Watt visited campus the other day to speak to the team and just be back home. He talked about doing what is right, and the quote that stuck was, "It matters what you do every single day—for yourself, for your team, for the entire state of Wisconsin.” Wisconsin posted this on their own X.
Many of the players, especially the younger ones, took pictures with Watt, but it was Lateju who turned heads for the fans. Lateju doesn't have an official height/weight listing on the Wisconsin team website yet, but coming out of high school, he was listed at 6'5" and 250lbs. The height appears to be close, but his weight has to be up.
Lateju has been on campus for a few months now, and it's clear he's taking advantage of the strength and conditioning coaching staff and the weight room. It's not just that he looks big, but he looks strong.
Dude’s biceps are crazy. He’s gotta be in the two-deep
— Adam Key (@AdamRKey) July 17, 2025
Wisconsin football is still a few weeks away, and while it's rare for true freshmen to get a ton of playing time, it's clear that Lateju is working his tail off to make an impact. If his strength and size translate to the field, he could end up being a monster for the Badgers, especially down the road. Wisconsin is LBU for a reason.