Laiatu Latu becomes first Lombardi Award winner in UCLA history
Laiatu Latu was a game-changing defender for UCLA during the 2023 season. As a result, he’s racking up some impressive awards to go along with his Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
On Wednesday, the star pass rusher for the Bruins received the Lombardi Award as the top lineman in all of college football. Latu is the first Bruin to capture the Lombardi Award in the 50th edition of the honor.
🏆 Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Lombardi Award as college football’s lineman of the year! pic.twitter.com/bC5G0pH0Br
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) December 7, 2023
On Thursday, Latu was announced as the recipient of the 2023 Ted Hendricks Award. That honor goes out to the top defensive end in college football, and Latu is once again the first UCLA DE to receive the award.
🏆 Laiatu Latu is the winner of the Hendricks Award as college football’s defensive end of the year! pic.twitter.com/2UA2V4K03v
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) December 7, 2023
Latu is a well-deserving recipient of both honors after terrorizing opposing offenses this season. He led the nation with 21.5 TFL and finished tied for 4th in the country with 13 sacks. Latu led the Pac-12 in both categories.
The former Washington defender has spent two seasons with the Bruin defense, compiling 34 TFL, 23.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups and 5 forced fumbles since the start of the 2022 season.