Four Bruins were named to the 2024 Senior Bowl Watch List in an announcement on Wednesday morning. Linebacker Darius Muasau, center Duke Clemens, defensive lineman Laiatu Latu and linebacker JonJon Vaughns have been recognized by the bowl. The 2024 Senior Bowl, which features elite draft prospects that showcase their talents in front of coaches and decision-makers from all 32 NFL teams during week-long activities in Mobile, Ala., will be played on Feb. 3 and be televised by the NFL Network.
Muasau, who played his first season as a Bruin in 2022 after transferring from Hawai'i, started all 13 games at inside linebacker and led the team in tackles (91). He rated 10th in the Pac-12 with an average of 7.0 stops per game and was credited with at least four stops in 10 games. Muasau had a season-best 14 tackles against Pittsburgh in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl and was also credited with double-digit tackles at Arizona State (12) and South Alabama (10). He added 2.0 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack in the win over ASU. Muasau made interceptions against Utah and Stanford and forced a key fourth down fumble in the win over Utes. Following the season, he was named second-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches and third-team all-league by Pro Football Focus.
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. In addition, Latu was credited with three forced fumbles on the season and had a fumble recovery. 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.
Vaughns saw action in all 13 games in 2022 with starts in the final 11 games of the season. He topped the team in tackles against Stanford (7) and Colorado (7) while being credited with at least three stops in 10 games last season. Vaughns was credited with 0.5 tackles for loss versus Washington and Bowling Green and made interceptions against South Alabama and Washington.
UCLA will open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Coastal Carolina in the Rose Bowl Stadium. The ESPN broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Bruins will also be home in Pasadena on Sept. 16 against North Carolina Central at 2 p.m.
Muasau, who played his first season as a Bruin in 2022 after transferring from Hawai'i, started all 13 games at inside linebacker and led the team in tackles (91). He rated 10th in the Pac-12 with an average of 7.0 stops per game and was credited with at least four stops in 10 games. Muasau had a season-best 14 tackles against Pittsburgh in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl and was also credited with double-digit tackles at Arizona State (12) and South Alabama (10). He added 2.0 tackles for loss and a quarterback sack in the win over ASU. Muasau made interceptions against Utah and Stanford and forced a key fourth down fumble in the win over Utes. Following the season, he was named second-team All-Pac-12 by the league coaches and third-team all-league by Pro Football Focus.
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. In addition, Latu was credited with three forced fumbles on the season and had a fumble recovery. 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.
Vaughns saw action in all 13 games in 2022 with starts in the final 11 games of the season. He topped the team in tackles against Stanford (7) and Colorado (7) while being credited with at least three stops in 10 games last season. Vaughns was credited with 0.5 tackles for loss versus Washington and Bowling Green and made interceptions against South Alabama and Washington.
UCLA will open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Coastal Carolina in the Rose Bowl Stadium. The ESPN broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Bruins will also be home in Pasadena on Sept. 16 against North Carolina Central at 2 p.m.