Laiatu Latu (15)
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Latu Finalist for Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award
December 07, 2023 | Football
HONOLULU โ The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame has announced UCLA's Laiatu Latu as one of 10 Finalists for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
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Latu joins DL Jonah Elliss (Utah), OL Troy Fautanu (Washington), OL Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), OL Dominick Puni (Kansas), QB Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland), DL J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State) and DB Sione Vaki (Utah) as 2023 finalists.
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Latuย finishedย the 2023 regular season leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). His total of 21.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in the nation this season and the highest mark by a Bruin since Anthony Barr finished the 2012 campaign with 21.5 TFLs.ย Latu had multiple tackles for loss in seven games during the season and at least 0.5 tackles for loss in each game in 2023.
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The Finalists were selected from a Watch List of nearly 100 players by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL Player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, former ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and Chief National Reporter for NFL Network Steve Wyche.
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The winner of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 14, 2023. The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2024 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 20, 2024) and they will be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 19, 2024).
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Latu joins DL Jonah Elliss (Utah), OL Troy Fautanu (Washington), OL Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), OL Dominick Puni (Kansas), QB Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland), DL J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State) and DB Sione Vaki (Utah) as 2023 finalists.
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Latuย finishedย the 2023 regular season leading the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). His total of 21.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in the nation this season and the highest mark by a Bruin since Anthony Barr finished the 2012 campaign with 21.5 TFLs.ย Latu had multiple tackles for loss in seven games during the season and at least 0.5 tackles for loss in each game in 2023.
ย ย
The Finalists were selected from a Watch List of nearly 100 players by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee which includes former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL Player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL Player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, former ESPN Sportscaster Neil Everett, and Chief National Reporter for NFL Network Steve Wyche.
ย
The winner of the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 14, 2023. The formal presentation of the Award will be held at the 2024 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (January 20, 2024) and they will be recognized during the Polynesian Bowl (January 19, 2024).
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Players Mentioned
DL
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