Latu Wins the Pac-12's Morris Trophy

The Pac-12 Conference, in conjunction with the Washington Athletic Club, announced on Monday that this year's defensive winner of the Morris Trophy was UCLA's Laiatu Latu. The Morris Trophy is awarded annually to the best offensive and defensive linemen in the conference, as selected by opposing players. The offensive winner was Washington's Troy Fautanu.

Latu, who last week was named the winner of the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award, 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 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 and first in the Pac-12. 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 Bruins topped the Pac-12 in team sacks per game average and tackles for loss (8.2) per game. The total of 41 sacks on the season is the sixth-most in the country and most by a UCLA team since 2012. The Bruins allowed multiple touchdowns in just five games during the season.
 
The Morris Trophy was started in 1980 to recognize the top offensive and defensive lineman in the Pac-12 Conference. Four Bruins have previously been voted by their opponents as the top lineman in the league. Latu becomes the third Bruin defensive winner joining Dave Ball, in 2003, and Kenyon Coleman, in 2001. UCLA's offensive winners include Xavier Su'a-Filo, in 2013, and Jonathan Ogden, in 1995.
 
The Morris Trophy awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 18 at noon at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle.