Laiatu Latu Wins 2023 Lombardi Award

HOUSTON --- The Lombardi Award®, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Houston, announced on Wednesday evening that UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu was the winner of the 2023 Lombardi Award which goes annually to the college football offensive lineman/tight end or defensive lineman/linebacker who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.
 
Latu is the first Bruin to win the award which has had four previous Bruin finalists – Jerry Robinson, 1978 (winner Bruce Clark); Jonathan Ogden, 1995 (winner Orlando Pace); Dave Ball, 2003 (winner Tommie Harris); Anthony Barr, 2013 (winner Aaron Donald). This year's other finalists included offensive tackle Joe Alt from Notre Dame, tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia and defensive lineman Jonah Elliss from Utah.
 
Latu finished 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. 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.
 
Latu's total of 13.0 sacks rates tied for third in the country in the category and is also tied for third on the all-time UCLA list. It is the most TFLs by a Bruin since 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 over the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He has registered at least a half a sack in eight of the 12 games this season and, last season. Latu posted a career-high seven tackles each in games this season against both USC and Arizona State. He was credited with two three-sack performances in 2023 against Colorado and Coastal Carolina. He made his first two career interceptions this season against Cal and North Carolina Central.

UCLA's defense enters the bowl 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 fifth 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 a Bruin team since 1985. The total of 41 sacks on the season is the sixth-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.

To be considered for the Lombardi Award®, players must be an NCAA FBS College Football team member and meet the following qualifications:

• Be a down Lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than ten (10) yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap.
• Be a Linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five (5) yards deep from the line of scrimmage. 
• Must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a Blocker or a Receiver or listed in the program as an Offensive Back or Receiver.
• Be eligible to participate in the current season.

Just weeks after Coach Vince Lombardi's 1970 death from colon cancer, Lombardi's widow, Marie, authorized the Rotary Club of Houston to establish the Lombardi Award®. As stipulated by Mrs. Lombardi, net proceeds from the Award's activities are contributed to Cancer Research programs. The award began as recognition to only the interior line positions that Lombardi played at Fordham. It was later expanded to include linebackers and tight ends. The voting electorate is made up of head football coaches, sports media from across the country and former winners and finalists of the award.

The previous winners of The Lombardi Award®, include:
2022-Will Anderson Jr., Alabama LB
2021-Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan DE
2020-Zaven Collins, Tulsa LB
2019-Joe Burrow, LSU QB*
2018-Ugo Amadi, Oregon S*
2017-Bryce Love, Stanford RB*
2016-Jonathan Allen, Alabama DE
2015-Carl Nassib, Penn State DE
2014-Scooby Wright III, Arizona LB
2013-Aaron Donald, Pitt DT
2012-Manti Te'o, Notre Dame LB
2011-Luke Kuechly, Boston College LB
2010-Nick Fairley, Auburn DT
2009-Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT
2008-Brian Orakpo, Texas DE
2007-Glenn Dorsey, LSU DT
2006-LaMarr Woodley, Michigan LB
2005-A.J. Hawk, Ohio State LB
2004-David Pollack, Georgia DE
2003-Tommie Harris, Oklahoma DT
2002-Terrell Suggs, Arizona State DE
2001-Julius Peppers, North Carolina DE
2000-Jamal Reynolds, Florida State DT
1999-Corey Moore, Virginia Tech DE
1998-Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M LB
1997-Grant Wistrom, Nebraska DE
1996-Orlando Pace, Ohio State OT
1995-Orlando Pace, Ohio State OT
1994-Warren Sapp, Miami DT
1993-Aaron Taylor, Notre Dame OT
1992-Marvin Jones, Florida State LB
1991-Steve Emtman, Washington DT
1990-Chris Zorich, Notre Dame DT
1989-Percy Snow, Michigan State LB
1988-Tracy Rocker-Auburn DT
1987-Chris Spielman, Ohio State LB
1986-Cornelius Bennett, Alabama LB
1985-Tony Casillas, Oklahoma DT
1984-Tony Degrate, Texas DT
1983-Dean Steinkuhler, Nebraska OT
1982-Dave Rimington, Nebraska C
1981-Kenneth Sims, Texas DT
1980-Hugh Green, Pitt DE
1979-Brad Budde, USC OG
1978-Bruce Clark, Virginia Tech DT
1977-Ross Browner, Notre Dame DE
1976-Wilson Whitley, Houston DE
1975-Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma DE
1974-Randy White, Maryland DT
1973-John Hicks, Ohio State OT
1972-Rich Glover, Nebraska NG
1971-Walt Patulski, Notre Dame DT
1970-Jim Stillwagon, Ohio State NG
*award changed criteria to include all positions from 2017-19