UCLA Linebacker Secures Defensive Player Of The Week Award

Though only two games into the season, UCLA's defense appears to be much improved from a year ago.

A big reason for this uptick in production and play sits with the front seven. Specifically, the captain of the defense -- right in the heart of the action -- is senior linebacker Darius Muasau.

The Hawaii native had another strong performance over the weekend in the win versus SDSU. So much, in fact, that he earned some national honors in the process:

💪 The Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week is @UCLAFootball LB Darius Muasau @Dariusmuasau53 who tallied 6 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFLs AND an 1 INT in the #GoBruins 35-10 win over SDSU. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/MpdyA7lnvq
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) September 11, 2023

In the 35-10 thumping of the Aztecs, Muasau had six tackles, 3.5 TFL, and an interception. The pick was quite impressive, as it occurred during a goal-line stand. SDSU attempted a screen pass which was bobbled. Muasau was alert enough to pluck the ball out of the air, thus creating the turnover for the Bruins.

While the Hawaii transfer was decent for UCLA, he looks far more comfortable this year. Muasau is reacting more so than thinking, and it's resulted in him playing at a much quicker pace. His instincts when diagnosing plays appear to be improved, and slimming down a bit has enhanced his athleticism.

Pac-12 Points Allowed per Game thru Week 2

11.5—UCLA
12.0—Oregon St
12.0—Utah
14.5—Washington
17.0—Arizona
17.3—USC
17.5—Cal
18.5—Oregon
23.0—WSU
24.0—ASU
28.0—Colorado
40.0—Stanford
— SuperWest Sports (@SuperWestSports) September 10, 2023

Through two games, Muasau leads the team in tackles (15). He is without a doubt the inspirational leader within the unit. When watching him on the field, he's quite vocal when lining up his teammates, and making sure they're positioned correctly.

We will know a lot more about this team (and its defense) once the schedule gets more difficult. The Week 4 matchup versus Utah in Salt Lake City will give us a real indication as to whether the Bruins are for real. The Utes are also undefeated up to this point, and the expectation is that QB Cam Rising will be back for that game.