NEWPORT BEACH, CA. – The Pacific Club IMPACT® Foundation has named UCLA's Laiatu Latu as a finalist for the 2023 Lot IMPACT® Trophy. The Lott IMPACT® Trophy, now in its 20th year, goes to the student-athlete who best exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT® on and off the field. IMPACT® is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Latu enters this week's games leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and 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 contests. 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.
With a total of 13.0 sacks this season, Latu rates tied for third on the all-time UCLA list, which 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. 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.
Latu is joined as a finalist by Michigan's Junior Colson, Utah's Jonah Elliss and Alabama's Dallas Turner. He will aim to join Eric Kendricks (2014) and Barr (2013) and become the third Bruin to win the Lott IMPACT® Trophy. This year's finalists will attend the annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy award show, December 10, 2023. Joel Klatt from Fox Sports will emcee the event. The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the three other finalists will receive $5,000 for each of their schools.
Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012 – Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA
2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
2015 – Carl Nassib, Penn State
2016 – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
2017 – Josey Jewell, Iowa
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Derek Brown, Auburn
2020 – Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
2021 – Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2022 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
The 20th Annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy Award Presentation will be held December 10th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. To purchase tickets for the event, click here or for more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottImpactTrophy.org
Latu enters this week's games leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and 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 contests. 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.
With a total of 13.0 sacks this season, Latu rates tied for third on the all-time UCLA list, which 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. 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.
Latu is joined as a finalist by Michigan's Junior Colson, Utah's Jonah Elliss and Alabama's Dallas Turner. He will aim to join Eric Kendricks (2014) and Barr (2013) and become the third Bruin to win the Lott IMPACT® Trophy. This year's finalists will attend the annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy award show, December 10, 2023. Joel Klatt from Fox Sports will emcee the event. The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the three other finalists will receive $5,000 for each of their schools.
Previous Winners of the Lott IMPACT® Trophy
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, Cal
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
2011 – Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2012 – Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2013 – Anthony Barr, UCLA
2014 – Eric Kendricks, UCLA
2015 – Carl Nassib, Penn State
2016 – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
2017 – Josey Jewell, Iowa
2018 – Josh Allen, Kentucky
2019 – Derek Brown, Auburn
2020 – Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
2021 – Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2022 – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
The 20th Annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy Award Presentation will be held December 10th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. To purchase tickets for the event, click here or for more information on The Lott Trophy visit: www.LottImpactTrophy.org