Laiatu Latu Wins the Ted Hendricks Award
The Ted Hendricks Foundation announced on Thursday that Laiatu Latu has been named the winner of the 2023 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. Latu is the first Bruin to win the award which is in its 21st year. The list of past Ted Hendricks Award winners includes current NFL standouts in Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan in 2021, Chase Young from Ohio State in 2019 and Jonathan Allen from Alabama in 2016. The other finalists for this year's award included Jonah Elliss of Utah, who led the nation in sacks per game average at 1.2, and Jalen Green of James Madison University, who paced FBS players with 15.5 sacks.
Latu finished the 2023 regular season atop the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) while ranking fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08) average. He 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 was credited with a career-high seven tackles each in games against both USC and Arizona State this season. Latu posted two three-sack performances in 2023 against Colorado and Coastal Carolina. He made his first two career interceptions in games against Cal and North Carolina Central.
Latu's 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. His total of 13.0 sacks rates tied for third in the country in the category and is tied for third on the all-time UCLA list. It is the most TFLs by a Bruin since Barr recorded 13.5 in 2012. Latu's 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. 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 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 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.
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.