DALLAS (FWAA) – UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is this week’s nominee for the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Latu, a senior, has recovered from neck surgery to become a dominant defensive force for the 25th-ranked Bruins.
Latu, who spent the first three years of his career at Washington, suffered a potential career-ending neck injury in 2020, as he was told by doctors that he would never play again.
Latu took a hit in practice in the lead-up to the Huskies’ season opener in November of 2020. Numbness lingered, and doctors could not determine the root cause of it. Feeling fine, Latu underwent neck surgery in March of 2021, hoping for clarity. But results were inconclusive and Washington would not clear him to return to the field, offering him a student coaching position instead.
“During that process, when I found out the news, I broke down,” Latu told Bruin Blue, UCLA’s athletics magazine. “It was a tough time for me. I wasn’t super optimistic. I took time and realized what I was going through. The thought of not playing football again broke my heart.”
Latu and his mother, Kerry, exhausted all options before being referred to Dr. Robert Watkins of Cedars-Sinai. Watkins, who was affiliated with the UCLA football team, cleared Latu to return to the field after Latu met certain benchmarks. Latu transferred to UCLA, which had also hired his position coach at Washington, Ikaika Malloe, as its new defensive line and outside linebackers coach.
The 6-5, 265-pound Latu returned to contact in the fall of 2022, and he hasn’t looked back since. Latu earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after leading the Bruins with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks last season.
The Sacramento native has picked up right where he left off so far this season. Latu’s nine tackles for loss rank third in the Pac-12, and his 5.5 sacks are tied for fourth in the conference. His two forced fumbles are tied for third in the league, too, and he has added one interception and six quarterback hurries for the 4-2 Bruins, who have the No. 2 defense in the Pac-12.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.
Previous winners of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are Oregon tight end Cam McCormick (2022), the University of Utah football Team (2021), Arkansas State analyst Alex Charlton (2020), Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson (2019), SUNY Cortland linebacker Kyle Richard (2018), Wisconsin safety D'Cota Dixon (2017), Pitt running back James Conner (2016), Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton (2015), Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa's Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).008), Navy's Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson's Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis' Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State's Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo's William Bratton (2002).
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a 404-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl’s community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 30. For more information on the 2023 Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, log on to orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
To submit a nomination for the Capital One Orange Bowl Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.