University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Laiatu Latu (15)
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Latu named Semifinalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year Award
November 21, 2023 | Football
The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced on Tuesday that Laiatu Latuย was one of ten semifinalists for its 2023 Player of the Year Award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation. The semifinalist lists includes four quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receiver/tight ends and two defensive players.
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The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. The three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28, and the 57th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 7.
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Latu enters this week's games leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and is rated third nationally in sacks per game (1.18). He posted a career-high seven tackles each in his last two games against USC and Arizona State and has racked up 24 stops over the past four games. Latu was credited with 2.0 sacks at USC and totaled 3.0 tackles for loss at Arizona. He had his second three-sack game of 2023 and the third of his career against Colorado. He made his first career interception in the September win against North Carolina Central. Latu enjoyed the first three-sack game of this season against Coastal Carolina and added a forced fumble in that victory.
Latu's total of 13.0 sacks this season, which rates tied for third on the all-time UCLA list, is the most since Anthony Barr recorded 13.5 in 2012. His total of 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons is the most by a UCLA player since Barr compiled the same total in 2012 and 2013. Latu's 20.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in the nation this season and the highest total by a Bruin since Barr finished the 2012 campaign with 21.5 TFLs.ย He has registered at least a half a sack in eight of the 11 games this season and, last season, he was credited with at least a half sack in eight of the 13 games in 2022.
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Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.ย
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Walter Camp 2023 Player of Year Semifinalists
Laiatu Latu, DL, UCLA
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
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The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors. The three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28, and the 57th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year award will be announced on ESPN's College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 7.
ย
Latu enters this week's games leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and is rated third nationally in sacks per game (1.18). He posted a career-high seven tackles each in his last two games against USC and Arizona State and has racked up 24 stops over the past four games. Latu was credited with 2.0 sacks at USC and totaled 3.0 tackles for loss at Arizona. He had his second three-sack game of 2023 and the third of his career against Colorado. He made his first career interception in the September win against North Carolina Central. Latu enjoyed the first three-sack game of this season against Coastal Carolina and added a forced fumble in that victory.
Latu's total of 13.0 sacks this season, which rates tied for third on the all-time UCLA list, is the most since Anthony Barr recorded 13.5 in 2012. His total of 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons is the most by a UCLA player since Barr compiled the same total in 2012 and 2013. Latu's 20.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in the nation this season and the highest total by a Bruin since Barr finished the 2012 campaign with 21.5 TFLs.ย He has registered at least a half a sack in eight of the 11 games this season and, last season, he was credited with at least a half sack in eight of the 13 games in 2022.
ย
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.ย
ย
Walter Camp 2023 Player of Year Semifinalists
Laiatu Latu, DL, UCLA
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR, Ohio State
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
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Players Mentioned
DL
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