Laiatu Latu (15)
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Latu Named Finalist for Hendricks Award
December 01, 2023 | Football
The Ted Hendricks Foundation announced on Friday that Laiatu Latu has been named one of three finalists for the 2023 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. The Foundation will announce this year's winner next week. Past winners of the award include Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson in 2021, Chase Young of Ohio State in 2019 and Jonathan Allen of Alabama in 2016.
Latu finished the 2023 regular season leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and was ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). He posted a career-high seven tackles each in games against both USC and Arizona State and has racked up 27 total tackles over the past five 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 in the win over Colorado. He made his first career interception in the September win against North Carolina Central and added a second against Cal. 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 21.5 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 12 games this season and, last season, he was credited with at least a half sack in eight of the 13 games in 2022.
UCLA's defense ended the regular season ranked 11th in the nation. The average of 299.0 yards per game allowed is the lowest by a Bruin team since 1992 (297.8). The Bruins lead the nation in rushing defense with a mark of 69.6 yards per game and rate third in the country in sacks per game (3.42). UCLA allowed just 2.33 yards per rush to rank second nationally and post the lowest mark by Bruin team since 1985. The total of 41 sacks on the season is the third-most in the country this season and most by a UCLA team since 2012. The Bruins allowed multiple touchdowns in just five games during the season.
Ted Hendricks played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Colts, Packers and Raiders and was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Hendricks was an 8-time Pro Bowl player who was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1970's and 1980's. He was also chosen for the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Hendricks was a two-time All-America selection at the University of Miami.
2023 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Finalists
Jonah Elliss Utah
Jalen Green James Madison
Laiatu Latu UCLA
Latu finished the 2023 regular season leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and was ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). He posted a career-high seven tackles each in games against both USC and Arizona State and has racked up 27 total tackles over the past five 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 in the win over Colorado. He made his first career interception in the September win against North Carolina Central and added a second against Cal. 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 21.5 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 12 games this season and, last season, he was credited with at least a half sack in eight of the 13 games in 2022.
UCLA's defense ended the regular season ranked 11th in the nation. The average of 299.0 yards per game allowed is the lowest by a Bruin team since 1992 (297.8). The Bruins lead the nation in rushing defense with a mark of 69.6 yards per game and rate third in the country in sacks per game (3.42). UCLA allowed just 2.33 yards per rush to rank second nationally and post the lowest mark by Bruin team since 1985. The total of 41 sacks on the season is the third-most in the country this season and most by a UCLA team since 2012. The Bruins allowed multiple touchdowns in just five games during the season.
Ted Hendricks played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Colts, Packers and Raiders and was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Hendricks was an 8-time Pro Bowl player who was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1970's and 1980's. He was also chosen for the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Hendricks was a two-time All-America selection at the University of Miami.
2023 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Finalists
Jonah Elliss Utah
Jalen Green James Madison
Laiatu Latu UCLA
Players Mentioned
DL
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