Laiatu Latu records a sack against Colorado.
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Latu Named Semi-Finalist for The Lombardi Award™
November 01, 2023 | Football
The Lombardi Award™, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston, announced on Wednesday that UCLA's Laiatu Latu was one of 12 players who will compete for this year's award. 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 Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.
Latu leads a Bruin defense which ranks 10th in the nation and tops the Pac-12 allowing 277.5 yards per game. UCLA leads the country in rushing defense with a 63.1 yards per game mark and is third nationally in team sacks average at 3.88 a game. Latu has been credited with 9.5 sacks on the season and rates fourth in the country at 1.19 sacks per game. His total of 13 tackles for loss computes to a 1.6 TFL per game average which is sixth-best in the land. After compiling 10.5 sacks last season, Latu has become the first Bruin player since Anthony Barr, who logged 10.0 in 2013 and 13.5 in 2012, to total 20.0 sacks over a two-season period. He has at least a half a sack in six of the eight games this season after recording at least a half sack in eight of the 13 2022 games. His overall total of 20.0 career sacks as a Bruin ranks tied for 10th on the all-time school list which is headed by Dave Ball, 2000-03, who registered 30.5.
To be considered for The Lombardi Award™, players must be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap. Candidates can also be a linebacker setting up no further than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. Players must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or receiver or have their position listed as a wide receiver or offensive back to compete for the award.
The 2023 Lombardi Award Semi-finalists
Laiatu Latu, UCLA – DL
Joe Alt, Notre Dame – OL
Cooper Beebe, Kansas State – OL
Brock Bowers, Georgia – TE
Jonah Elliss, Utah – DL
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – OL
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State – OL
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois - DL
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma – LB
Dallas Turner, Alabama – DL
Jared Verse, Florida State – DL
Zak Zinter, Michigan – OL
The second round of voting to determine the four finalists for The Lombardi Award™ will begin on Nov. 2 and lead to the announcement of finalists on Nov. 15.
Latu leads a Bruin defense which ranks 10th in the nation and tops the Pac-12 allowing 277.5 yards per game. UCLA leads the country in rushing defense with a 63.1 yards per game mark and is third nationally in team sacks average at 3.88 a game. Latu has been credited with 9.5 sacks on the season and rates fourth in the country at 1.19 sacks per game. His total of 13 tackles for loss computes to a 1.6 TFL per game average which is sixth-best in the land. After compiling 10.5 sacks last season, Latu has become the first Bruin player since Anthony Barr, who logged 10.0 in 2013 and 13.5 in 2012, to total 20.0 sacks over a two-season period. He has at least a half a sack in six of the eight games this season after recording at least a half sack in eight of the 13 2022 games. His overall total of 20.0 career sacks as a Bruin ranks tied for 10th on the all-time school list which is headed by Dave Ball, 2000-03, who registered 30.5.
To be considered for The Lombardi Award™, players must be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap. Candidates can also be a linebacker setting up no further than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. Players must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or receiver or have their position listed as a wide receiver or offensive back to compete for the award.
The 2023 Lombardi Award Semi-finalists
Laiatu Latu, UCLA – DL
Joe Alt, Notre Dame – OL
Cooper Beebe, Kansas State – OL
Brock Bowers, Georgia – TE
Jonah Elliss, Utah – DL
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State – OL
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State – OL
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois - DL
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma – LB
Dallas Turner, Alabama – DL
Jared Verse, Florida State – DL
Zak Zinter, Michigan – OL
The second round of voting to determine the four finalists for The Lombardi Award™ will begin on Nov. 2 and lead to the announcement of finalists on Nov. 15.
Players Mentioned
DL
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