UCLA's Laiatu Latu earns Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor
After a dominant performance in UCLA’s win over Colorado to open Pac-12 play over the weekend, Laiatu Latu earned the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Week award for Week 4.
#Pac12FB Defensive Player of the Week, presented by @Nextiva: Laiatu Latu 🐻
Full release ➡️ https://t.co/xab0RbqXHi#GoBruins | @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/DdiTP3cAPy
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 26, 2022
The junior outside linebacker led UCLA with three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss overall in last Saturday’s 45-17 win at Colorado. He was also credited with a forced fumble after one of his sacks which led to a two-play touchdown drive for the Bruins’ offense. Latu nearly had himself an interception as well.
Latu has five sacks in four games and 5.5 tackles for loss. He leads all Pac-12 players in sacks. A former Washington Husky, Latu missed two years because of a neck injury that ultimately forced him to medically retire. He decided to return to football this past offseason and transferred to UCLA, where he’s now thriving.
The Bruins, who are tied for the third-longest winning streak in the nation with seven straight wins, welcome that same Washington team to Pasadena on Friday night. ESPN will broadcast the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT.