UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu has been selected to multiple Midseason All-America teams this week. All-America teams from The Sporting News, Associated Press, USA Today, FOX sports, the athletic.com, cbssports.com and espn.com have included the 6-5, 265 senior as a first- or second-team selection.
Latu leads the UCLA team with 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He ranks 10th in the nation in both sacks per game average (0.92) and tackles for loss per game average (1.5). Latu is second among Pac-12 players in tackles for loss average and rates third in the league in sacks average. Earlier this season, the Sacramento native tied his career best with 3.0 sacks against Coastal Carolina. He has forced two fumbles in 2023 (Coastal Carolina and Washington State) and recorded his first career interception against North Carolina Central. Latu added 2.5 tackles for loss in the win at San Diego State.
Latu has keyed a UCLA defense which ranks 11th in the nation in total defense (281.0 yards per game) and leads the nation by allowing just 2.29 yards per opponent rushing attempt. Five of UCLA's six opponents to date have scored less than 20 points and its 16.2 points allowed per game mark is 14th-best in the country.
This week, the No. 25 Bruins (4-2, 1-2) travel to play at Stanford (2-4, 1-3) in a Pac-12 Conference battle on Saturday night. ESPN will broadcast the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. UCLA returns home to Pasadena next Saturday to host Colorado at 4:30 p.m. in Rose Bowl Stadium on Oct. 28.
Latu leads the UCLA team with 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He ranks 10th in the nation in both sacks per game average (0.92) and tackles for loss per game average (1.5). Latu is second among Pac-12 players in tackles for loss average and rates third in the league in sacks average. Earlier this season, the Sacramento native tied his career best with 3.0 sacks against Coastal Carolina. He has forced two fumbles in 2023 (Coastal Carolina and Washington State) and recorded his first career interception against North Carolina Central. Latu added 2.5 tackles for loss in the win at San Diego State.
Latu has keyed a UCLA defense which ranks 11th in the nation in total defense (281.0 yards per game) and leads the nation by allowing just 2.29 yards per opponent rushing attempt. Five of UCLA's six opponents to date have scored less than 20 points and its 16.2 points allowed per game mark is 14th-best in the country.
This week, the No. 25 Bruins (4-2, 1-2) travel to play at Stanford (2-4, 1-3) in a Pac-12 Conference battle on Saturday night. ESPN will broadcast the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. UCLA returns home to Pasadena next Saturday to host Colorado at 4:30 p.m. in Rose Bowl Stadium on Oct. 28.