Houston, Texas -- Two Bruins, Gabriel Murphy and Laiatu Latu, were named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award™ in an announcement on Tuesday in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston. The Lombardi Award™ is presented annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performances and ability.
Murphy was a starter in all 13 games for the Bruins in 2023. He was credited with at least three tackles in 10 games and totaled a season-high five stops versus Arizona, including 1.0 sacks. Murphy recorded 38 tackles last season, the eighth-best total on the team, and tied for fourth with 4.0 tackles for loss. He was a second-team all-conference selection by Pro Football Focus.
Latu appeared in all 13 games for the Bruins last season and topped 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 win at Colorado. In addition, he was credited with three forced fumbles on the season (Alabama State, Colorado, Stanford) and had a fumble recovery at Cal. Latu 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.
To be considered for the Lombardi Award™, players must be an NCAA FBS College Football team member and meet the following qualifications:
UCLA opens the 2023 football season on Sept. 2 in the Rose Bowl Stadium against Coastal Carolina. The ESPN broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. Following a game at San Diego State on Sept. 9, the Bruins will return to Pasadena for a battle with North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. The Pac-12 schedule begins the following Saturday with a trip to play at Utah on Sept. 23.
Murphy was a starter in all 13 games for the Bruins in 2023. He was credited with at least three tackles in 10 games and totaled a season-high five stops versus Arizona, including 1.0 sacks. Murphy recorded 38 tackles last season, the eighth-best total on the team, and tied for fourth with 4.0 tackles for loss. He was a second-team all-conference selection by Pro Football Focus.
Latu appeared in all 13 games for the Bruins last season and topped 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 win at Colorado. In addition, he was credited with three forced fumbles on the season (Alabama State, Colorado, Stanford) and had a fumble recovery at Cal. Latu 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.
To be considered for the Lombardi Award™, players must be an NCAA FBS College Football team member and meet the following qualifications:
- Be a down Lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than ten (10) yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap.
- Be a Linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five (5) yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
- Must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a Blocker or a Receiver or listed in the program as an Offensive Back or Receiver.
UCLA opens the 2023 football season on Sept. 2 in the Rose Bowl Stadium against Coastal Carolina. The ESPN broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. Following a game at San Diego State on Sept. 9, the Bruins will return to Pasadena for a battle with North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. The Pac-12 schedule begins the following Saturday with a trip to play at Utah on Sept. 23.