UCLA Football: Laiatu Latu Lands Another Huge NCAAF Honor

Laiatu Latu continues to amass awards for his stellar 2023 performance.

Laiatu Latu is one of the most exciting college football players, as his 2023 campaign with the UCLA Bruins included 13 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions. Latu has been racking up awards this season, as he prepares for his eventual entrance into the NFL Draft. 

On top of winning the Lombardi Trophy for being the best lineman in the country, Latu was also awarded the Hendricks Award for being the best defensive lineman in the country as well. 

Latu was also the first player since 2015 from UCLA to be given the honor of being named an All-American. To add to his already impressive resume, he has also been awarded another huge college award. 

🏆 Laiatu Latu is this year’s Polynesian College Football Defensive Player of the Year! pic.twitter.com/sSKiyS55sz

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) December 14, 2023

Latu was now been awarded the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. He joins Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa as the Polynesian Offensive Player of the Year. Taulia Tagovailoa is the younger brother of NFL's Tua Tagovailoa, who plays QB for the Miami Dolphins. 

Latu is likely to be a top-10 draft pick this year for the NFL, with some mock drafts pegging him as a top-5. Though the UCLA Bruins are set to take on Boise State in the LA Bowl this Saturday, Latu has opted out of the game. 

Coach Chip Kelly was honest about Latu's non-involvement in the game. The hope was that Latu would play his final game with the Bruins, but it makes sense as to why he will be skipping the bowl game. 

Latu is one of the most dynamic players in college, and though he is skipping the LA Bowl, he deserves every award he has been given thus far. 

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