Two Bruins, center Duke Clemens and defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, have been named by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) to the watch lists for the 2023 Outland Trophy and 2023 Nagurski Trophy, respectively. The Outland Trophy recognizes the nation's top interior lineman while the Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the nation's top defender.
Clemens was the starter in all 13 games at center last season and helped clear the way for the Bruins to average over 200 yards per game on the ground for the third straight season (237.2 - sixth in FBS). The team had nine 200-yard rushing games, three of 300-plus yards, and topped the Pac-12 in rushing for the first time since 1976. Running back Zach Charbonnet paced the league in rushing average (135.9, fourth in NCAA) and led the nation in all-purpose yardage. The Bruins offensive line was selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award which is presented each year to the nation's top O-line.
Latu appeared in all 13 games last season and led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He ranked eighth in the nation, second in the Pac-12, with a 0.81 sacks per game mark. His 10.5 sacks were the most by a Bruin player since Anthony Barr registered 13.5 in the 2012 season and rate as the 12th-most by a Bruin player in school history. Latu posted 2023 season-highs with 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in a game at Colorado and was honored as Pac-12 Player of the Week for that performance in Boulder. In addition, Latu was credited with three forced fumbles on the season (Alabama State, Colorado, Stanford) and had a fumble recovery at Cal. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches and second-team all-conference by Pro Football Focus after being named to the Associated Press and The Athletic Mid-season All-America Teams.
The recipient of the 2023 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 10, 2024. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
The Bruins open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Rose Bowl Stadium against Coastal Carolina. That game will be televised by ESPN and begin at 7:30 p.m. UCLA will travel to play at San Diego State on Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m. on CBS before returning to Pasadena to host North Carolina Central on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks to complete the non-conference slate.
Clemens was the starter in all 13 games at center last season and helped clear the way for the Bruins to average over 200 yards per game on the ground for the third straight season (237.2 - sixth in FBS). The team had nine 200-yard rushing games, three of 300-plus yards, and topped the Pac-12 in rushing for the first time since 1976. Running back Zach Charbonnet paced the league in rushing average (135.9, fourth in NCAA) and led the nation in all-purpose yardage. The Bruins offensive line was selected as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award which is presented each year to the nation's top O-line.
Latu appeared in all 13 games last season and led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He ranked eighth in the nation, second in the Pac-12, with a 0.81 sacks per game mark. His 10.5 sacks were the most by a Bruin player since Anthony Barr registered 13.5 in the 2012 season and rate as the 12th-most by a Bruin player in school history. Latu posted 2023 season-highs with 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in a game at Colorado and was honored as Pac-12 Player of the Week for that performance in Boulder. In addition, Latu was credited with three forced fumbles on the season (Alabama State, Colorado, Stanford) and had a fumble recovery at Cal. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches and second-team all-conference by Pro Football Focus after being named to the Associated Press and The Athletic Mid-season All-America Teams.
The recipient of the 2023 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 10, 2024. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2023 Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 15 and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
The Bruins open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 at Rose Bowl Stadium against Coastal Carolina. That game will be televised by ESPN and begin at 7:30 p.m. UCLA will travel to play at San Diego State on Sept. 9 at 4:30 p.m. on CBS before returning to Pasadena to host North Carolina Central on Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks to complete the non-conference slate.