A first-round left tackle out of Utah, Caleb Lomu didn't allow a sack all of his final college season before New England traded up to draft him 28th overall.
Caleb Lomu, a four-star recruit of Tongan descent from Gilbert, Arizona, developed into one of the nation's premier pass-protecting tackles at Utah. His dominant, sack-free 2025 season pushed him into the first round, and the New England Patriots traded up to grab him with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Path to the league
Lomu starred at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona, where he helped his team win back-to-back state titles and earned four-star recruiting status, along with invitations to the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl. He chose Utah over offers from Arizona, Michigan and USC, redshirting as a freshman before earning the starting left tackle job.
Career highlights
As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Lomu allowed just 17 pressures and two sacks while earning Freshman All-American recognition from The Athletic. He continued to develop into one of the country's top tackle prospects, posting elite measurables at the combine, including the fifth-best relative athletic score among offensive tackles.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Utah in 2025, Lomu was named first-team All-Big 12 and did not allow a single sack, posting just a 2.3 percent pressure rate across 359 pass-blocking snaps. The performance made him a coveted first-round prospect, and the New England Patriots traded up from the 31st pick to select him 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Caleb Lomu
- Patriots.com: Analysis - Patriots Select Utah OT Caleb Lomu in the First Round
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Utah
- Hometown
- Gilbert, AZ, USA
- Age
- 21
- Status
- active
